The Ka-De-Wee department store in Berlin is a trading house that evokes awe of wealthy buyers. The Kaufhaus des Westens (an abbreviation for KaDeWe) is Europe's largest consumer temple and ranks with upmarket stores such as London's Harrods or Galeries Lafayette in Paris. Every day, about 50 thousand fans of exclusive shopping flock to a neoclassical building in the western part of the German capital. Half of them are guests of the city.
KaDeWe - the best shopping experience in all of Germany
Despite a century of history, the Kaufhaus des Westens (Trade House of the West) remains the most famous department store in Germany today. Thanks to extensions and modernization, the original area (24,000 m2) has grown to 60,000 m2. Sales areas dazzle with the magnificence of luxury goods: noble fabrics, selective perfume, status watches, luxury electrical appliances, stylish home accessories, designer handbags and shoes.
The department store is famous for its large gourmet section on the sixth floor. The richest assortment, including 35,000 types of food from around the world, has become the reason for the gastronome to be entered in the Guinness Book of Records. In addition, the shopping paradise offers the following services to visitors:
- In the atelier, you can restore wardrobe items or adjust clothes to size.
- By ordering the VIP transfer service, you will have at your disposal an executive Audi SQ7 with a chauffeur.
- If the amount of purchases is more than 150 euros, the store service will deliver them free of charge to the specified address (within the city boundaries).
- By hiring a professional image consultant, you will save time searching for the right things and get help in creating the image.
- Customers outside the European Union who contact the Global Blue office on the fifth floor will receive a receipt. By presenting it at the Tax Free refund point at the airport, you will be refunded the VAT amount.
Excellent customer service is provided by qualified sales consultants with additional training in rhetoric, business fundamentals and product presentation. It employs about 2,000 employees, 70% of them are women. Now the famous store is preparing for major changes. Phased construction work, estimated at € 180 million, has already begun. The changes will affect not only retail space. In 2022, after the completion of the redevelopment, the building will be crowned with a glass roof.
History
At the beginning of the last century, Berlin entrepreneur Adolf Jandor, whose company A. Jandorf & Co already owned seven trading houses, decided to open a new store on Wittenbergplatz. The department store must meet the needs of the elite and offer luxury goods. The businessman entrusted the project to the architect Johann Emil Schodt. In March 1907, a five-story Kaufhaus des Westens appeared in the capital, with an area of 24,000 m2. In 1930, the building was expanded by two levels.
In 1943, a downed American plane crashed onto the structure, destroying the roof and top of the structure. The shopping area was relocated to the Nürnberger Straße in the Femina-Tanzpalast, the dance hall of West Berlin. In 1950, under the direction of the architect Hans Soll, the restoration of the dilapidated building began. In the summer of the same year, on July 3, the first floor of the revived Ka De Ve was inaugurated. On this day, 180,000 people came to visit the legendary Mecca of trade. In 1956, all seven floors were ready, at the same time the delicatessen department appeared. By 1996, the total area was 60,000 m2.
What brands are represented
Today, a paradise for connoisseurs of high fashion provides an opportunity to see and purchase products from more than two hundred well-known brands. The most famous fashion houses such as Chanel, Burberry, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Karl Lagerfeld exhibit their masterpieces here. Each store level has its own specialization.
To the right of the main entrance is Luxusboulevard - a luxurious boulevard, where you will find a wide selection of watches, leather goods and jewelry from Chopard, Phillip Lim, Céline, Bulgari, Cartier, Miu Miu, Omega. In the hall, fragrant with perfumes, there are corners of companies producing cosmetics, perfumes and luxury care products: La Mer, Guerlain, Acqua di Parma, Creed, Donna Karan, Givenchy, Kilian, La Prairie.
The first floor is dedicated to the stronger sex. Sports, elegant, business clothes and shoes are offered by Paul Smith, Boss, Alberto, Tommy Hilfiger, Barbour, Diesel, Dior Homme, Z Zegna. Second floor - the heart of the Ca De Ve - women's department. Boutiques Roberto Cavalli, Escada, Armani Collezioni, Jil Sander, Strenesse, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen are located on an area of 8,000 m2. Climbing even higher, you will find a section of shoes, accessories and underwear.
The fourth floor is the kingdom of household goods: household appliances, bedding, luxury dishes, kitchen utensils and interior items from Fissler, Le Creuset, Frette, Christy, Etro, Missoni, Meissen, Rosenthal. The fifth floor specializes in the sale of electronic equipment, office supplies, books, toys and luggage. Here dominate firms Chicco, Samsonite, Victorinox, Leica, Tivoli, Montblanc.
Gastronomy department - gourmet paradise
The sixth floor, which houses the most expensive supermarket in Berlin, is very popular with visitors. The KaDeWe deli was widely known at the beginning of the 20th century. It was thanks to him that the townspeople learned about the existence of many exotic products from other countries. Today, delicacies from all over the world are on display in the food department: chanterelles from Morocco, beans from Senegal, one hundred varieties of fresh fish, oysters from Brittany and Russian caviar. The sweet tooth will be attracted by the confectionery and bakery.
Cakes and pastries are made according to the recipes of the French culinary school Lenôtre. Lovers of rare wine can choose from 3,400 varieties of this noble drink, while connoisseurs of cheese will be delighted with the opportunity to taste 1,300 types of this dairy product. If you do not wish to prepare delicacies at home, the cooks and pastry chefs at Ka De Ve will gladly do it for you. In 30 small cafes and bars, visitors are offered hot French buns, tender salmon steaks, the finest Italian prosciutto ham and the freshest seafood.
Berlin sales - travel tips
Experienced shoppers recommend coming to the capital of Germany during the sales season. Since stores try to display new collections as soon as possible, freeing the shelves from old ones, discounts on designer items of the outgoing season reach 65%. The price reduction is indicated by the signs "Schlussverkauf", "%" and "Reduziert". The Schnäppchenjagd (bargain hunt) takes place twice a year and lasts two to three weeks. Clothes and shoes of popular sizes disappear from the shelves in the first place.
The winter SALE, offering warm wardrobe items, starts on January 25-30, although after the New Year, stores begin to gradually reduce the cost of products. Initially, the discount is 10-20%, increasing towards the end of the month. In summer, the pursuit of low prices begins on July 20-25 and provides an opportunity to save money on the purchase of dresses, bikinis, shorts, blouses, light pullovers, sandals and sandals.
Where you can spend time, have a snack and relax
Those of you who, after many hours of shopping, have felt a slight hunger and pleasant fatigue, can go up to the seventh floor and visit the winter garden, located under a glass dome. Panoramic windows overlook the lively Tauentzienstraße. There are several restaurants in the huge, bright room. They offer guests not only to enjoy delicious dishes, but also to watch their preparation.
From the end of November to December 24, KaDeWe turns into a fairy tale. Berlin's smartest Christmas market invites kids and adults alike on an amazing winter journey. In the lobby there is a traditional decorated spruce tree. Its fluffy branches sag under the weight of unusual designer decorations. On the fourth floor, visitors are greeted by funny gnomes, snowmen, heroes of German fairy tales and Santa Claus, ready to listen to the innermost desire of every child.Here you can also buy exclusive Christmas tree decorations and festive accessories. At this magical time, the department store awaits guests until 21:00.
Working hours
Like all stores in Berlin, the West Trade House is open to shoppers from Monday to Saturday (excluding a few Sundays a year).
Opening hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 10: 00-20: 00
- Friday: 10: 00-21: 00
- Saturday: 09: 30-20: 00
Mecca of trade is closed during public and religious holidays in Germany: 01.01, 01.05, 03.10, 25.12, 26.12, on the day of the Ascension of the Lord, Trinity, on Good Friday and Monday following Catholic Easter. On Christmas Eve and December 31st, you can shop until 14:00.
Where is it located and how to get there
The shopping center is located in the west of the capital - in the Schöneberg district, near the Zoologischer Garten station, the dilapidated Kaiser Wilhelm church and the Kurfürstendamm boutique street. It is more convenient to get here by:
- U-Bahn (underground): lines U1, 2, 3 to station W When you exit, cross to the left side of the street.
- Bus: lines M19, 29, 46 - to the Wittenbergplatz stop; 106 and 187 to An der Urania. Then you need to cross the street Kleiststrasse and move further in the direction against the traffic. Travel time is 5 minutes.
- Car: Ca De Ve has two garages with 1,000 spaces. They are accessed via Passauer Straße. The cost of the first and second hour of parking is EUR 2.50, starting from the third hour - EUR 3.50. For cyclists there is a parking equipped with a video surveillance system.
Address: Tauentzienstraße 21-24, 10789 Berlin.
