The City of Halle (Saale), together with its partners, is announcing a competition to develop and test innovative usage and business concepts for a retail store in the city center over a two-year period. The goal of the competition is to help revitalize the downtown area, strengthen the mix of uses, increase the attractiveness and sustainability of the downtown location, and create opportunities for economically viable development.
Throughout the entire project period, you can expect a comprehensive range of support services, including startup consulting, assistance with financing, and a waiver of the net base rent for the first six months. After that, the rent will be structured on a sliding scale. Please refer to the attached documents for further information.
This project by the City of Halle (Saale) is being carried out in cooperation with: the Halle-Dessau Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Halle (Saale) Chamber of Crafts, the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, Funkhaus Halle GmbH & Co. KG, Stadtmarketing Halle (Saale) GmbH, Volksbank Halle (Saale) eG, Citygemeinschaft Halle e.V., and Hallesche Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH.
What are we looking for?
We are seeking concepts for the use of a retail space (Geiststraße 53) in downtown Halle (Saale) that demonstrate innovation, suitability for the location, and economic viability. Ideas may come in particular from the fields of retail, services, urban production, skilled trades, the cultural and creative industries, or hybrid models.
In particular, the proposals submitted should:
- make a noticeable contribution to revitalizing the downtown area
- Strengthen the downtown area as an attractive, sustainable, and more livable place
- promote a mix of uses and multifunctional use of the site
- be economically viable in the long term or during a sustainable pilot phase
- create sustainable value and, where appropriate, employment opportunities
Who can take part?
Eligible to participate are individuals and legal entities, aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, microenterprises, retailers, business owners, franchisees, and teams who wish to develop and implement a viable business idea for the Halle (Saale) area.
The selection decision is based on a transparent set of criteria. The following aspects, in particular, are evaluated:
- Contribution to Downtown Revitalization
- Level of Innovation and Creativity
- Alignment with the location and the urban development strategy
- Sustainability of the Business Model
- Economic Viability
- Feasibility and Timeline
What do we need from you?
The application must be complete and submitted by the deadline of September 30, 2026. The following are required:
- Brief profile of the applicant or team, including a resume, proof of qualifications, and a simple certificate of good conduct
- Project description, including a business plan or business concept; company/organization, including (planned) legal form; financing and liquidity plans; and a timeline and implementation plan
- Additional attachments, such as sketches, references, or visualizations, if applicable
- No AI-generated business concepts—or AI-generated business concepts must be labeled as such!
Application deadline: September 30, 2026