Shopping and History rolled into one...

Berlin's most famous department store, KaDeWe, is more than just a shopping haven with a great food gallery – it is a reflection of the endurance and survival of the city.

Opened in 1907 by a Jewish retailer, the department store served the affluent middle class of the Tiergarten district. By 1926, it was considered the largest department store in Europe.

After the National Socialists gained power in 1933, the store was boycotted and the owners were forced to sell their shares and ultimately leave the country.  The store, however, remained intact until a US plane crashed into it in 1943.

After the war, the store was rebuilt and re-opened in 1950. It stood as a symbol of the re-birth and resilience of the Berlin people and has become a treasured landmark.

After the Wall came down in 1989, the store was flooded with Easterners coming to experience a taste of the West.

One of the more recent additions to the store is a new Food Hall on the top floor.  And so we went to have a taste.  Although a bit chaotic with shoppers pushing through to the different food stations, the solarium dining area was open and airy and gave wonderful vistas of the surrounding areas.  A perfect break to an afternoon of shopping and history...