KaDeWe Berlin:
The Story Behind Germany's Most Famous Department Store
What Is KaDeWe?
KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) is Germany's most famous department store and one of the best-known department stores in Europe.
It opened in Berlin in 1907 and is still considered one of the most iconic landmarks of former West Berlin.
Today, KaDeWe is best known for its more than 100-year history, international luxury brands and its famous gourmet floor on the sixth floor.
Why Is It Called Kaufhaus des Westens?
KaDeWe stands for Kaufhaus des Westens, which translates to "Department Store of the West."
The name referred to the newly developing western part of Berlin around Charlottenburg and Kurfürstendamm.
The department store was intended to become the luxury shopping destination of this new district – and that's exactly what it became.
Why Is KaDeWe So Famous?
KaDeWe Berlin is one of the world's most famous department stores.
It became famous not only for its size or its luxury brands, but above all for its more than 100-year history, its legendary gourmet floor and its role as a symbol of former West Berlin.
KaDeWe Berlin at a Glance
- Opened: March 27, 1907
- Founder: Adolf Jandorf
- Architect: Emil Schaudt
- Location: Tauentzienstraße, Wittenbergplatz, Berlin-Schöneberg
- Name: KaDeWe stands for Kaufhaus des Westens ("Department Store of the West")
- Retail space: Around 60,000 m² across multiple floors
- Highlights: The famous gourmet floor on the sixth floor
- Visitors: Around 40,000–50,000 daily, up to 100,000 during the Christmas season
- Known for: Luxury brands, gourmet food, architecture and more than 100 years of Berlin history
Alright, friends,
when you stand in front of KaDeWe today, everything feels like it's always been there. The grand window displays, international luxury brands and thousands of visitors are just as much a part of West Berlin as Kurfürstendamm or the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
But that's exactly the misconception.
KaDeWe wasn't built in a district that was already famous. Instead, it played a major role in turning West Berlin into what it is today.
And that's exactly why it's worth looking back.
Why Was KaDeWe Built in the First Place?
KaDeWe Berlin opened in 1907 because Berlin merchant Adolf Jandorf wanted to create a department store specifically aimed at affluent customers.
His goal wasn't just to sell exclusive products, but also to establish the emerging western part of Berlin as a modern shopping and social hub.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Berlin was growing rapidly. New boulevards were being laid out, magnificent buildings were rising, and the capital was developing into one of Europe's most important cities.
While Berlin's political and cultural history was unfolding around Museum Island and the historic city centre, an entirely new district was taking shape west of the Tiergarten.
At the time, people referred to it as the "New West."
Back then, Charlottenburg wasn't even part of Berlin yet – it was an independent city.
It was here that Berlin merchant Adolf Jandorf recognized a unique opportunity.
A Department Store for High Society
After opening several department stores for everyday shopping, Jandorf wanted to create something Germany had barely seen before: a department store for high society. Not a place for quick purchases, but for people looking for international fashion, exceptional products and outstanding service.
On March 27, 1907, Kaufhaus des Westens – better known as KaDeWe – finally opened its doors.
Even the name was a deliberate choice. It was meant to signal that a new centre was emerging. Not in historic Berlin, but in the city's rapidly growing western district.
Its location was no coincidence either. The newly built elevated and underground railway had been stopping at Wittenbergplatz for only a few years, meaning visitors arriving by train stepped out almost directly in front of the main entrance.
At the time, this was a huge advantage and an early example of how closely urban development and modern public transport were connected. Even today, major transport hubs such as Berlin Central Station and Alexanderplatz Station continue to shape entire neighbourhoods.
KaDeWe Shaped West Berlin
KaDeWe Berlin wasn't just another department store. It turned Tauentzienstraße and Kurfürstendamm into one of Germany's most important shopping districts and laid the foundation for what is now known as City West.
Today, millions of people stroll along Tauentzienstraße every year. For many visitors, the walk from Wittenbergplatz to Kurfürstendamm is simply part of any trip to Berlin.
But before KaDeWe opened, the area looked completely different.
It was largely a residential neighbourhood. Only after the department store opened did more shops, cafés, hotels and theatres gradually move into the area.
Within just a few years, the neighbourhood had become one of the most elegant parts of Berlin.
How One Department Store Shaped an Entire District
Contemporary observers described how the area suddenly developed an atmosphere that had previously been found only in the world's great cities.
People from around the globe strolled through the streets, elegant shop windows invited visitors to browse, and the western part of Berlin increasingly became a counterpart to the city's historic centre.
This transformation became especially clear during the Roaring Twenties. As Berlin grew into one of the world's most vibrant cities, KaDeWe Berlin became one of its most recognizable landmarks.
Not many buildings can claim to have transformed an entire district. KaDeWe is one of them.
Why Did the Roaring Twenties Become KaDeWe's Golden Age?
During the Roaring Twenties, KaDeWe Berlin grew into one of Europe's most modern and luxurious department stores.
International fashion, technological innovations and the famous gourmet floor made the Kaufhaus des Westens known far beyond Berlin.
As Germany's economy recovered during the 1920s, KaDeWe Berlin evolved as well.
After Adolf Jandorf sold the business in 1926, the Hermann Tietz department store company took over and invested heavily in its expansion.
New floors were added, a rooftop terrace invited visitors to relax, and the selection became even more international.
One department, however, proved especially influential and remains inseparable from the history of KaDeWe to this day.
The Birth of KaDeWe's Famous Gourmet Floor
In the late 1920s, KaDeWe introduced its gourmet floor – the department that still makes the store world-famous today.
At a time when most people rarely looked beyond regional food, Berliners could discover delicacies from France, Italy and overseas. Exotic fruits, fine wines and specialties from around the world turned KaDeWe Berlin into a place where people came not only to shop, but also to be amazed.
Much like Berlin's historic market halls, the gourmet floor reflected the changing food culture – although on a much more exclusive level. It quickly became a meeting place for food lovers and remains the heart of KaDeWe to this day.
At the same time, Berlin itself was changing rapidly. The city was becoming one of Europe's most exciting metropolises, with new theatres, cinemas, bars and a nightlife that attracted international attention.
KaDeWe was a perfect fit for this era. It wasn't just selling products – it was selling a way of life.
How Did the Nazi Regime Change KaDeWe?
The Nazi rise to power marked one of the darkest chapters in KaDeWe Berlin's history. Its Jewish owners were systematically dispossessed, employees were dismissed, and the company was forcibly "Aryanized."
KaDeWe owed its very existence to entrepreneurs such as Adolf Jandorf and, later, the Jewish-owned Tietz family business.
But after 1933, that very background became their downfall.
On April 1, 1933, KaDeWe remained closed during the nationwide boycott of Jewish businesses. Shortly afterwards, hundreds of Jewish employees lost their jobs.
At the same time, banks and the Nazi regime placed enormous pressure on the owners. Loans were denied, company shares were systematically taken away, and the Tietz family was ultimately forced to sell their business.
Today, this process is known as Aryanization – the systematic expropriation of Jewish entrepreneurs during the Nazi era.
Outwardly, little seemed to change at first. The name KaDeWe remained, and the department store continued operating. Behind the scenes, however, everything had changed. The people who had built the department store had been pushed out.
This chapter is an inseparable part of KaDeWe's history. It shows that the department store was not only a witness to Berlin's history, but also experienced its political and social upheavals firsthand.
Why Did KaDeWe Burn Down During World War II?
KaDeWe Berlin was heavily damaged in 1943 when a British bomber crashed into the building during an Allied air raid. The resulting fire destroyed large parts of the department store, including its historic company archive.
This was an especially painful loss, as the archive contained countless documents and memorabilia from the store's early decades.
During the final years of the war, Berlin was one of the main targets of Allied bombing raids, and KaDeWe was no exception.
When the war ended in 1945, all that remained of the former luxury department store was a heavily damaged building.
The fact that KaDeWe still exists today is anything but guaranteed. Its story could easily have ended right there.
How Did KaDeWe Become a Symbol of West Berlin After the War?
After World War II, KaDeWe Berlin didn't sell luxury goods at first. Instead, it focused on everyday essentials.
It wasn't until Germany's economic recovery that the Kaufhaus des Westens once again became West Berlin's most famous department store and a symbol of the free West.
When KaDeWe Berlin reopened on July 3, 1950, after being rebuilt, designer brands and champagne were the last thing on people's minds.
Berliners came to buy cooking fat, sausages and basic groceries.
Around 180,000 people visited the department store on the very first day alone. It was a powerful reminder of just how severe the shortages still were in the years after the war.
At first, KaDeWe wasn't a place of luxury. It was an essential part of supplying a devastated city.
As the economy recovered throughout the 1950s and 1960s, however, the department store gradually changed once again. International fashion, premium products and exclusive delicacies slowly returned.
Step by step, KaDeWe Berlin returned to its original vision and once again became one of Europe's best-known department stores.
The Shop Window of the Free West
The division of Berlin gave KaDeWe an entirely new meaning.
As East and West Berlin grew further apart, the department store became one of the best-known symbols of West Berlin.
It came to represent prosperity, international flair and economic growth. Just a few minutes' walk away, landmarks such as the Europa-Center were built, whose rotating Mercedes star still serves as a reminder of that era. Together, they shaped what is now known as City West.
Anyone exploring the history of divided Berlin quickly realizes how closely these developments were connected. While places such as Tempelhof Airport became symbols of freedom during the Berlin Airlift, KaDeWe took on that role in everyday life.
It became the shop window of the West – a place where visitors could see what West Berlin wanted to stand for.
Why Did West Berlin Always Feel Like a Different City to Me?
As a child and teenager, I grew up in East Berlin.
Naturally, my daily life rarely took me to the western part of the city. Occasionally for a school trip, a handball match or an event. Later, I visited Christmas markets, concerts and went there from time to time, but those were the exceptions.
That only changed when I started my apprenticeship at a renowned five-star hotel near Tiergarten. From then on, I spent almost every day around Zoologischer Garten, Kurfürstendamm and the former centre of West Berlin.
And I have to admit:
I liked it.
Anyone who claims today that East and West Berlin are hardly any different either never really spent time in both parts of the city or simply wasn't paying attention.
Of course, Berlin has long been one city again.
Even so, you can still see how differently the two halves developed.
The architecture, shopping streets, transport, shops, restaurants and even the people – so much still feels different today. That's hardly surprising. After all, East and West Berlin were shaped by completely different political, economic and social systems for more than four decades.
I noticed this most clearly every time I walked into KaDeWe. It never felt like an ordinary shopping centre.
It felt more like stepping into a place that still carries its history today.
What Happened to KaDeWe After the Fall of the Berlin Wall?
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, KaDeWe Berlin became one of the first places many East Germans wanted to visit in the West.
At times, as many as 200,000 people came every day to see the famous department store with their own eyes for the first time.
When the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, KaDeWe changed overnight.
The very next day, countless people from East Berlin and across East Germany poured into the department store. At its peak, up to 200,000 visitors were counted each day. Many simply wanted to see for themselves what they had previously only known from stories or West German television.
For many people, visiting KaDeWe was one of their first experiences in former West Berlin – much like walking to the Brandenburg Gate or, for West Berliners, taking a stroll through Alexanderplatz Station.
Places that had represented two completely different ways of life for decades could suddenly be experienced without borders.
Although KaDeWe lost its political role as the shop window of the West after German reunification, its importance to Berlin remained.
To this day, KaDeWe Berlin is one of the capital's best-known landmarks and continues to attract visitors from all over the world.
Why Is KaDeWe's Gourmet Floor So Famous?
KaDeWe Berlin's gourmet floor is one of the world's most famous food halls.
Since the late 1920s, it has attracted food lovers from around the globe and remains the heart of the Kaufhaus des Westens to this day.
While many visitors first think of luxury fashion or international designer brands, most Berliners associate KaDeWe Berlin with something entirely different: its famous gourmet floor on the sixth floor.
This isn't shopping in the traditional sense.
It's a place to taste, indulge, observe and discover.
Spread across several thousand square metres, you'll find delicacies from around the world, hundreds of varieties of cheese, fresh fish, handmade chocolates, exclusive wines and champagne, as well as numerous restaurants and bars. Even people who don't plan to buy anything often come here simply to enjoy the unique atmosphere.
More Than Just a Food Hall
What makes it special isn't just the selection.
KaDeWe's gourmet floor still tells part of Berlin's history. Back in the late 1920s, the department store was already offering international specialties—long before food from around the world became commonplace. At a time when most people were familiar almost exclusively with regional products, visitors could discover delicacies that were completely new to them.
To this day, it remains one of Europe's largest gourmet food departments. Every day, thousands of dishes are freshly prepared, bread is baked, and specialties from around the world are offered.
That's exactly why it's far more than a luxury food store. For many visitors, it's a tourist attraction in its own right and one of the main reasons to visit KaDeWe Berlin.
The Story I Experienced in KaDeWe's Elevator
I just can't leave this one out.
During my apprenticeship, I worked as a porter at a five-star hotel in Berlin. We wore all-black uniforms with name tags and the hotel's logo—high-quality, simple and pretty elegant.
From time to time, I had to run errands at KaDeWe during work.
Sometimes I was picking up a watch, other times concert tickets, perfume, suits or bags. Eventually, I knew the department store inside out, chatted regularly with the staff and even volunteered whenever someone needed to go to KaDeWe.
One day, I was sent to pick up a Rimowa suitcase.
I stepped into the elevator and, just before the doors closed, an elderly couple got in.
Then I heard: "Sixth floor, please."
For a brief moment, I froze.
Without thinking, I simply pressed the button for the third floor.
The couple thanked me politely.
It wasn't until we were on our way up that I realized what had just happened.
They had simply assumed I was the elevator operator.
And I completely played along.
I had to laugh to myself, but I didn't say a word and never cleared up the misunderstanding.
Even today, I sometimes think back to that moment. Maybe the couple even told the story when they got back home.
The funny thing is, decades earlier, that exact scene probably could have happened for real.
And to be honest, I've always wondered whether they would have tipped me in the end.
In a way, this little story perfectly captures the unique atmosphere KaDeWe still has today.
Even in 2015, some visitors apparently assumed it still had traditional elevator operators.
I doubt there's another department store in Germany that could inspire that kind of assumption.
Why Does KaDeWe Still Feel Different Today?
Of course, there are plenty of modern shopping centres today.
They're bigger, newer or more architecturally impressive.
Yet KaDeWe has always had a very special feeling for me.
Maybe it's because I already knew the history of KaDeWe before I started visiting it regularly.
Or maybe it's simply because you can still feel this building's past.
It doesn't feel like just another shopping mall.
This was where Berlin's high society gathered during the German Empire. These walls witnessed the Roaring Twenties, the expropriation of its Jewish owners, World War II, the division of Berlin and, eventually, the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Few buildings tell so many chapters of Berlin's history over the course of more than a century.
Maybe that's exactly KaDeWe's secret.
It hasn't just been selling products for more than 100 years.
For over a century, it's been selling a piece of Berlin's history too.
Berlin isn't a tourist attraction. Berlin is a city.
See you in the real Berlin—or in the next blog.
Take care. 🖤
Sources: Book "Architektur in Berlin" by Matthias Donath | Book "Berlin-Architektenführer" by Dominik Schendel | Many of the images in this article are sample images and were not taken at the locations described.
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