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The KARL concept house in Fulda is reinventing itself and will become the central venue for the Hessentag with the state exhibition and AI world in June.
Fulda – The Fulda concept store KARL, formerly known as the Kerber department store, is facing comprehensive change. As the city of Fulda has announced, the ground floor area will initially close on April 30th. The reason: the former department store becomes the central stage of Hessentag, which takes place from June 12th to 21st.
During the state festival, the large state exhibition will be held on the ground floor, basement and first floor, an AI world that provides insights into modern technologiesas well as the “Meeting Point Hessen” move in. Unlike previous Hesse Days, where temporary halls were often built on the festival grounds, Fulda is relying on a sustainable solution. The renovation work is planned for May and early June.
Concept house KARL in Fulda is reinventing itself for Hessentag
Just in time for Hesse day The new café-bistro “Gaston im KARL” also opens. Three well-known names from the regional gastronomy scene are behind the concept: Felix Wessling, Andreas Rau and Fabian Bessler. The trio is planning an innovative bistro with an extensive wine selection and an open show kitchen. The “glass box” in the small passage to the side entrance from the direction of Rabanusstrasse is intended to be connected to the interior of the former department store and offer both outdoor and under-roof seating. The culinary offer should remain permanent even after Hessentag.
As the owner of the area, the Fulda Urban Development Company (SEG) will be coordinating the work and realignment of the house from August 1st. After Hessentag, the previous KARL pop-up store will move from the area on Rabanusstrasse to the back part towards Bahnhofstrasse and Lindenstrasse – the area that served as a corona vaccination center and later as an exhibition space. The approximately 1,000 square meter retail space with a window front facing Rabanusstrasse is to be re-let or temporarily used for changing purposes.
At the same time, SEG is relying on tried and tested methods: the collaboration with Shaggy Schwarz's Improv Theater, which has been a tenant in the former Kerber area since May 2023 and is considered Germany's second largest improv theater, will be continued. The cultural roof garden “Karlchen vom Dach”, which has enriched Fulda’s gastronomic scene for the third summer and offers a special offer at the Christmas market, will also be retained.
The Fulda Children's Academy with its “KAF im KARL” adventure world for families is still present on the third floor. Proven event formats such as the education fair, the tattoo convention or the wedding fair Your Wedding Party will continue to find their place at KARL. The next pop-up sale with the cult ceramics from Motel a Miio is planned for July 2026.
90 percent of the space in the former administrative wing has already been rented. A new use will only be sought from August for the Hessentag office currently located there. There is 185 square meters of office space available, divided into four partially connected rooms with their own coffee kitchen, small storage room and toilet. The SEG is open to creative ideas – whether exhibition, pop-up museum, convention, culture, music, sport or co-working. True to the KARL motto “Room for your ideas”.
Still The exhibition “KERBER. Fulda buys. 1958–1991” can be seen on the ground floor until April 30th. The large-format image motifs will then find their new place in the passage (“Wurstgasse”) towards the side entrance.
