“At Christmas and for the book sale at the beginning of each school year, Mira Lobe would come and help out,“ recalls Georg Fritsch, who has called the bookstore (founded in 1930) his own for more than 35 years. And he can hardly remember any longer all the authors who have come and gone to his shop.

Comparing an old photograph of the bookstore with the ambiance of today, there is little difference. “The outside appearance basically has not changed and this certainly is my intention,” states Fritsch. “Books are not just like any item offered in a supermarket. They do require a certain environment, a conscious treatment,“ he continues. Circumventing this has consequences for all involved-- for the books, and for the readers. “This is our understanding of how to treat books“, says Fritsch, who likes to see a bookstore emanate the ambiance of a library.

Of course it is not only the outside appearance which makes a difference, but foremost it is the books waiting to be discovered here. “World literature, an old term, is reflected in our store,“ Fritsch says. Sometimes even cries of joy can be heard coming from the store. This happens at those times when a group of Japanese tourists converges on the bookstore, holding their guide book with the travel tip triumphantly in the air. Other than that though, one can count on the quiet that is beneficial when exploring the world of books.