Zürich’s center is today a single construction site, a constant state of change and a jumble of everything. Everywhere is being drilled, renovated and then, as if the first attempt had never taken place, torn open again. One could almost believe that a golden treasure is hidden beneath the Bahnhofstrasse – or the city has accumulated so much tax revenue that it can renew the pavement twice a year without ever seeing a bill. Where once bankers in their suits dominated the street, today construction workers are the new rulers of the Bahnhofstrasse, unstoppable and always present, as if there were no other rhythm in this city.
Time, unstoppable and fleeting like the wind, is changing at an breathtaking pace. Where once the proud sign of Credit Suisse stood, now UBS stands, as if the old legacy had lost its significance and a new chapter had taken its place.
Not only the financial world is experiencing this transformation; the Bahnhofstrasse, once the shining showcase of Swiss retail, is also facing an unrelenting metamorphosis. Here, where once life pulsed and every step through the expensive shops was a symbol of success, the slow death of classical retail is advancing. High rents, almost suffocating and a changing consumer behavior, which is increasingly drawing customers to new forms of shopping, force even the most renowned companies to question their presence. The glittering shop windows, which once flimmered like promises to the passersby, are losing their luster. In this new era, in which change has become the norm, the Bahnhofstrasse stands as a mute witness to an era that is in its final throes.
Globus stumbles, the fat years are over – Bahnhofstrasse loses its luster.