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Vienna loses cult bookstore: 102 years in review!
The ÖBV bookstore in Vienna is closing after 102 years. Reasons include a decline in sales, an unfavorable rental agreement and naming rights.
Vienna loses cult bookstore: 102 years in review!
The ÖBV bookstore at Schwarzenbergstraße 5 in Vienna will close at the end of the year after 102 years. A look back at a long story that now comes to an inglorious end. Elke, the bookseller, expresses concerns about this development and the future of the employees who now have to look for jobs. For them in particular, finding a new job in the current situation will be a strenuous task. After all, the industry also has to contend with challenges.
How Today reports, a sale is currently underway with discounts of up to 50% to reduce inventory, while the bookstore's opening hours are gradually reduced. This decision was not easy, as the bookstore was known for its large selection of school books, Austrian and travel literature, children's and young adult books, and crime novels.
Reasons for closure
The reasons for this closure are complex: a decline in sales in stationary retail, unfavorable rental agreements and the expiry of the naming rights to the ÖBV brand are affecting the traditional bookstore. ÖBV was previously taken over by the Viennese publisher freytag & berndt in May 2025. This takeover made managing director Carl Rauch optimistic about the future, but the reality was different.
As part of this takeover, the freytag & berndt bookstore at Wallnerstrasse 3 will in future take over the support of schools and direct deliveries to organizations. This is intended to further expand the range and textbook expertise there buecher.at reported.
The situation in trade
But the closure of the ÖBV bookstore reflects a larger problem in Austrian retail. According to the trade association's annual balance sheet, private consumption represents a significant portion of gross domestic product at over 50%. Nevertheless, real household spending is stagnating at the previous year's level, while some sectors are enjoying growth. New figures show that spending on food increased by 4.6%, while spending on electrical appliances fell by 0.6%. Computers and video games recorded the highest growth rate at a whopping 19.5%.
In retail, the challenges are clear: 37% of retailers rate the business situation as difficult and the leading concerns are reluctance to buy, high inflation and rising costs for staff and rent. Looking ahead to the coming year, 35% expect the situation to worsen - a circumstance that is also visible in the dark clouds over the bookstore handelsverband.at uncovers.
The final closure of the ÖBV bookstore will represent a significant loss for the Viennese book scene, and many will be wondering what happens next. In these difficult times, one thing remains above all: hope for better days and a positive trend in retail that calls for fresh ideas and a good hand.