Department store Merkur

After Albert Loose gave up his 1905 founded " company and textile store Merkur " already in 1906 and the family left for Königsberg in September 1906, Alfred and Berta Bernheim continued the business. In December 1910, the Bernheims acquired the Merkur department store in Ludwigstraße. Around 1912, Alfred Bernheim bought the adjoining corner house at Theresienstrasse 2. In addition to the house at Ludwigstrasse 7 (four rental lots), which he owned in 1914/15, Alfred Bernheim also purchased the house at Ludwigstrasse 15 in 1916, in which the Bernheims also had a store. They operated this store under their own name. The Merkur department store was rented to the merchant Albert Ucko. In 1926, a plan was made to build the new Merkur department store. In 1927, the installation of two apartments on the 3rd floor of the building was approved. In 1928 Alfred and Berta Bernheim retired from the business. From 1928 to mid-1931, their sons Siegbert and Felix Bernheim ran the business.In December 1935, Alfred and Berta Bernheim and also Siegbert Bernheim deported to Buchau. In 1939 Alfred and Berta Bernheim emigrated to St.Die in France to their daughter Lene. Later they went to the South of France and lived there in hiding until their liberation. In 1946 the couple emigrated to Palestine to their son Siegbert.