WEKA-Karree, Cultural heritage department store in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
WEKA-Karree is a department store building in Gelsenkirchen featuring multiple retail spaces and offices across different floors with architectural elements preserved from 1912. Today the structure houses various tenants including a blood donation center, law offices, and retail shops.
The building was constructed in 1912 by architects Walter Klose and Georg Schäfer for Gebr. Alsberg AG and expanded in 1928. It was seized during Nazi rule and later became known as WEKA-Karree.
The building once served as a department store with specialized sections including an Oriental rug room and a prayer space for Jewish employees before World War II. Visitors can still sense the traces of this diverse past reflected in the structure today.
The building is easily accessible by public transportation and houses several facilities open to visitors. Access to the various shops and offices is provided through the main entrances of the building.
The building was originally known as Westfalen-Kaufhaus before receiving its current name. This change in name reflects the multiple chapters in the location's history.
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