Restructuring of the Ems-Einkauf-Center Rheine
Rheine. The restructuring of the Ems-Einkauf-Center (EEC) in Rheine is making great strides. The city council of Rheine unanimously approved the project-related development plan at its meeting on May 20, 2025. We received the following press release from the city council:
Political discussion and comprehensive consideration
The development plan is the result of an intensive public debate. Numerous comments – including from Innenstadt Rheine e.V., the hotel association DEHOGA and the district advisory council Innenstadt/Hörstkamp – were carefully examined and included in the deliberations. “We have weighed things up intensively: The city centre will remain protected, local supply will be strengthened and vacancies will be eliminated,” emphasizes Mayor Dr. Peter Lüttmann. The EEC will not compete with, but rather complement the town center.
The city of Rheine sees the realignment of the EEC as a balanced compromise between economic development, protection of the city center and sustainable urban design.
The inner-city shopping center, which has been a defining retail location in Rheine since 1972, will be given a future-proof face and repositioned on the market. The comprehensive restructuring will have a direct impact on the further development of the Rheinecity center – both in terms of urban development and economy.
The EEC, which is one of the city’s central retail addresses with a total rental area of around 22,100 square meters and its location on the Ems and direct connection to the pedestrian zone, is being rebuilt in sections. The old parts of the building, including the former shed roof halls, have already been demolished. The administrative building with the “Rheiner Freiheit”, which is worth preserving, has been extensively modernized and has already been successfully let.
The restructuring is being carried out under the leadership of the FIM Group from Bamberg, which acquired the EEC for its own portfolio. In close cooperation with SQM Property Consulting from Münster, which is advising on the purchase as well as the concept development and letting, the EEC is being developed into a nationally relevant shopping quarter.
“We are delighted that a decisive milestone has been reached after an intensive planning and coordination process. The positive framework conditions in Rheine and the constructive cooperation with the city administration and the EEC have significantly supported our long-term investment decision,” emphasizes the FIM Group.
Urban development and climate protection in harmony
With the approved project-related development plan, the city of Rheine is not only setting urban development standards, but also climate protection standards. The plan contains numerous measures to adapt to climate change and promote sustainable urban development. These include, among others:
- Extensive green roofs
- Tree planting and green beds
- A modern infiltration system for the underground storage of rainwater
These measures are based on the principle of the sponge city and make an important contribution to improving the inner-city microclimate. In addition, comprehensive photovoltaic systems are planned to support energy requirements in the long term.
Another key aspect is the opening up of the district in terms of urban development: the open walking axis towards the city center – via BernburgPlatz, which is currently being redesigned – will ensure that the EEC remains seamlessly linked to the city center in the future. This allows visitors to combine their shopping in the EEC with a stroll through the city or other errands in the city center – a gain for frequency, quality of stay and urban life.
Strengthening local supply
As a first step, the existing building – with tenants such as Aldi, Takko, KiK, the employment office, the job center and a fitness center – has already been extensively modernized and reopened.
Extensive new buildings and extensions to the existing building are planned for the next phase. An investment volume of around 31 million euros is planned for this construction phase. According to current plans, construction is due to start before the end of this year – another important step in the sustainable realignment of the Ems-Einkauf-Center.
A central component of the new EEC is a comprehensive supply concept with a particular focus on local supply. With EDEKA, another strong full-range retailer has been secured as an anchor tenant. The offer is complemented by well-known tenants from various sectors:
- Drugstore: Rossmann
- Pet supplies: Das Futterhaus
- Non-food: Action – after many years of searching, the discounter is realizing its first location here in Rheine
- Gastronomy, office and service space, services
The targeted tenant structure offers a balanced, customer-oriented range for all areas of life. At the same time, a conscious effort was made to significantly reduce or exclude retail space for center-relevant product ranges from the previous maximum of 11,550 sqm to a maximum of 8,300 sqm.
An additional planned element is a low-budget hotel, which will appeal in particular to target groups such as tradesmen, fitters and other price-sensitive overnight guests such as tourists. It is a useful addition to the existing hotel offering at Rheine and supports tourism and business travel. The hotel’s central location will also benefit restaurants and retailers in the city center.
A gain for Rheine
“The new EEC will create an attractive city quarter that will secure local supply, increase the quality of stay and sustainably strengthen Rheine as a shopping and living location,” emphasize representatives of the city administration and EWG – Entwicklungs- und Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für Rheine mbH. The realignment of the EEC is thus exemplary of sustainable, climate-conscious urban development with supra-regional appeal.
Image material
Visualization by Teemu Lorenz, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Architect, HLK + PARTNER ENTWICKLUNGS-GESELLSCHAFT mbH & Co. KG, Hubertistr. 12 – 14, D-48155 Münster-Westf.).