Hauenstein in shoe fever: SPD demands strengthening the shoe mile!

Hauenstein in shoe fever: SPD demands strengthening the shoe mile!

On March 17, 2025, the SPD parliamentary group of the local community Hauenstein directed an appeal to the community to demand more intensive support for the so-called "shoe mile". This shopping street, which serves as the center for shoes and sporting goods, has a long tradition and could need additional impulses in view of new competition from online and inpatient trade. In order to increase the attractiveness of the shoe mile and to pass in the competition, the establishment of a regular round table was suggested. Here business people, community leadership and council factions are to come together to develop concepts to strengthen the commercial location.

An important topic that could be discussed on this table is the planned expansion of the "Fashion-Outlet-Center Zweibrücken". The operating company plans to increase the area by 4,500 square meters to a total of 25,500 square meters, which could possibly have 40 to 50 new stores, including shoe stores. However, this brings concerns: the mayor Steffen Mellein and the Rhineland-Palatinate trade association warn of negative effects on business in surrounding cities such as Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens and Zweibrücken. In their view, a moderate expansion of the outlet would be advisable.

The history of the shoe mile

The roots of the shoe industry in Hauenstein go back more than 130 years when the first shoe factory was opened. As a result, the number of shoe factories quickly grew to over 50, which Hauenstein made in the post -war period to become a center for specialist retailers. The first single business, "Schuh Mühlenz", still exists. Despite the challenges of the competition from abroad, which made a shift to commercial activities necessary, the local interest in shoes remained high.

The German shoe mile on the B10 federal road was opened around 14 years ago with the first shoe store "Schuh Brand". Since then, customers' interest in regional products has grown continuously. There are currently 26 shoe stores in Hauenstein, which is the largest shoe village in the world. Factory and warehouse sales offer a huge range of international top brands. Over a million shoes are in stock and serve different needs of customers.

economic framework conditions

The economic situation in the shoe and leather goods industry can be better explained by the new HDS/L compendium "The German Shoe and Leather Wirtswirtschaft in numbers 2022/2023". According to the documentation, which includes sales and employee data as well as production and price information, the challenges with which the industry is faced with are diverse. HDS/L CEO Manfred Junkert emphasizes the value of these key figures for the industry, which can serve as a guideline for future strategic decisions.

With a clear strategy to strengthen the shoe mile, Hauenstein could not only preserve its tradition, but also better prepare for future challenges. The commitment to create a round table shows that the community is ready to actively work for the support of local trade.