Café Lichtenberg in Cologne: After 23 years it's over!

Café Lichtenberg in Cologne: After 23 years it's over!

In downtown Cologne, the popular Café Lichtenberg is closing its doors after 23 years. The last day of opening is October 25, 2025. This is described by the operators as an emotional farewell that marks the end of an era. The reason for the closure is the planned new building of the Kreissparkasse Köln on Richmodstrasse. This measure involves the demolition of the building in which the café is located. Demolition work is scheduled to begin at the beginning of November 2025 after it became clear that renovating the complex, which was built in the 1950s, was not economically viable.

The planned new building will create a commercial area of ​​14,000 square meters with a mix of retail, restaurants and office space. The Café Lichtenberg, opened in 2002, was a popular meeting place and impresses with its interior, which is reminiscent of a Parisian café. The design was by the Cologne artist Bettina Gruber, and under the direction of Ulrike Weingarten, specialties such as our own coffee and wines were offered in the “Marx Weinbar”. The regular events included concerts, readings and exhibitions, which made the café a cultural center in Cologne.

A farewell and new perspectives

However, the future is not entirely black for operators. They have announced that the Lichtenberg team's popular cakes and coffees will soon be available at other locations in Cologne, including the Theater im Bauturm, the Museum Ludwig, the Café Feynsinn, the Café Offenbach in the Carlswerk and the Städtehaus. A new café is also planned for the summer of 2026 on Offenbachplatz, which will be built in the Cologne Opera and Theater building. A return to Neumarkt in a few years is not out of the question and is longed for by many in the district.

Since its founding almost 2,000 years ago, the city of Cologne has developed into a metropolis on the Rhine that combines both historical and modern aspects. Current urban development projects, such as the new building on Richmodstrasse, are part of a long tradition of urbanization and renovation. Cologne, once a regional trading center, has continuously grown in importance through numerous changes - from the construction of the city wall in the 12th century to new urban buildings in the 20th and 21st centuries. The developments in the city center, such as the creation of new commercial and residential areas, are of enormous importance, especially in the context of the city's history.

As early as the 19th century, the city experienced a renewal and doubling of the population, driven by the construction of the railway. Reconstruction after the Second World War fundamentally changed the cityscape, as did the expansion of pedestrian zones from the 1960s onwards. Historical buildings such as the Cologne Cathedral are still defining elements of the cityscape, while more modern districts such as the Rheinauhafen with the striking crane houses embody a new urbanity. Urban development in Cologne remains dynamic and varied, and the Lichtenberg Café is part of this lively history of the capital. Kölner Stadtanzeiger reports that the emotional reactions to the café's closure demonstrate how strongly such local establishments are anchored in the community. The comprehensive information on urban development in Cologne also illustrates the complex changes that the city has undergone in its history.