Munich city center: Another traditional business has to give up – Munich

There are people who say everything used to be better. In most cases, that’s nonsense. But when it comes to the number of owner-managed specialist shops in downtown Munich, the thought is correct, because they are decreasing every year. Now another small institution in the trade is closing after 117 years: Hans Nahr, a specialist shop for exquisite and expensive knives known throughout Germany and beyond.

“Before I lose everything, I’d rather stop at the Ruffinihaus,” says owner Antonia Tanzer. “I used to make a nice profit almost every year, now it’s a huge loss.” She has been a tenant in the Ruffinihaus since 1957, her shop is right next to the fashion house Konen, which now belongs to Breuninger. But now, with the help of a lawyer, Tanzer has signed a termination agreement with the city of Munich, which is the landlord.

“The lengthy renovation of the Ruffinihaus, construction sites, Corona and the war in Ukraine, that was too much,” says Tanzer. The Ruffinihaus, which Gabriel von Seidl had built on Rindermarkt at the beginning of the 20th century, was extensively renovated from 2018 to 2020. The tenants were evicted during this time. Tanzer moved her knife business under the arcades on the north side of the Stadtmuseum, where there is hardly any public traffic. Their sales have collapsed by 60 to 80 percent.

However, the hoped-for recovery did not come with the return to the historic Ruffinihaus. On the contrary, the pandemic and the changing measures to combat it made life difficult for retailers. Nevertheless, the city was not particularly accommodating with the rent or the conditions for the lease. There were other problems too: “We tried everything to get Antonia Tanzer to get Corona help, but it didn’t work,” says Wolfgang Fischer, Managing Director of City-Partner Munich, an association of inner-city retailers. The business had collapsed so badly due to the move even before the pandemic that she was not entitled to any money; there was no hardship clause.

Hans Nahr, the “shaving, electronics and knife shop in the heart of Munich”, as it says on its website, has never recovered from this. Tanzer has never changed the traditional name. “You wouldn’t believe it, but Arab sheiks used to shop in the small shop,” says Fischer. But above all, this well-heeled clientele from the United Arab Emirates and Russia, which once accounted for a good two-thirds of sales, is now missing. Even Munich’s regular customers are sometimes rare. “I have old customers who say they haven’t been in town for four years. The worst thing is: if you come, you don’t like the city center anymore, too many construction sites, rude cyclists and careless e-scooter drivers,” says the businesswoman, who herself has twice collided with the electric companions.

What’s more, once chefs invest money in a really good knife, they don’t need a new one any time soon. “Anyone who buys a Nesmuk knife, for example, has it for life and can even inherit it,” says Tanzer. Of course, such quality has its price: interested parties have to spend at least 500 euros for a chef’s knife, but it can also be 5000 euros. Nesmuk manufactures extremely sharp Damascus knives in its factory in Solingen. “Once you’ve held it in your hands, you don’t want to give it up anymore,” says Tanzer.

Hans Nahr has always been exclusive. When the shop was founded in 1906, the Nahr brothers sold bicycles on Westenriederstraße behind the Viktualienmarkt. At that time they were the ultimate means of transport and business was excellent. After the First World War, the Nahrs switched to music machines and gramophones, later radios and record players were added. After the Second World War, they sold the then new and sought-after televisions.

Open detailed view

Tanzer did not change the name Hans Nahr when she took over the business in 1995. “In the beginning I still sold batteries, light bulbs and razors,” she says. “I used to put the batteries in the alarm clocks of older ladies.” But these simple things are largely listed today. Companies like Braun and Philips are not interested in selling their razors and beard trimmers to small shops and they charge retail prices when they buy them. They prefer to rely on Saturn and Media Markt.

Tanzer’s specialist shop continued to specialize in very special knives. “I carry the largest selection of Forge de Laguiole in the world, who still make their knives completely by hand in their own forge.” In the Ruffinihaus you can even get individual pieces that have been made according to Tanzer’s designs and drawings. The same goes for Laguiole Village and Dozorme. Not to forget: Nesmuk! “I’m the only one with handles made of juniper, poplar, mulberry or pistachio,” says Tanzer. She gets the juniper wood from France, where there are trees that are up to 500 years old. The “Kantel”, as she calls the wooden sticks of exquisite quality, is then sent to Nesmuk, where the handle is made especially for her and her customers.

It’s a small, fine shop with tools that not everyone can or wants to afford. A business that lives above all from the service and expertise of its owner – and her sheer tireless commitment. “I’ve been running the business for 28 years and went on vacation for the first time in September after 23 years,” says Tanzer. She is the sole managing director – “there hasn’t been any sensible staff for years,” she says. So the 65-year-old takes care of purchasing, sales, accounting, inventory, tax consultant and her websitewho still needs some beautification work.

But for now, Tanzer is taking stock. There is a sale from January 10th to February 4th. And after that it still needs to be renovated. On February 28th it will finally be over with Hans Nahr in Sendlinger Straße. But Tanzer wants to continue selling her hot goods, online and at exhibitions. She will personally visit many a chef in the kitchen in the future – with a selection of the best knives.