Social Fabric

With COVID-19 changing everyone's daily habits across the globe and causing businesses to close, lives have been changed, potentially forever. But in the chaos and fear there are stories of hope, creativity, and solidarity. That is seen most here in the social fabric of Moabit, Berlin. Small and local businesses have faced uncertainty and challenges but have turned these challenges into opportunities. This is the story of small businesses in Moabit and the role they play in our community.

As part of our small documentary Social Fabric that we are working on we wanted to feature another business that has found a way to stay busy and support itself during COVID-19 - Buchkantine. Buchkantine is a mixed concept between a book store and a restaurant, but because of Corona they decided to keep their book store open and close their restaurant. The Buchkantine is using this down time wisely, however, and plan to open a food truck at Potsdamer Platz. Their message was simple - if this crisis can teach us to shop more regional and buy more locally, then maybe there is a silver lining for is all. Support Buchkantine when you find yourself in Moabit next time!

As part of our small documentary that we are working on we wanted to feature another business that has found a way to stay busy and support itself during COVID-19 - Dorotheenstädtische Buchhandlung. Dorotheenstädtische Buchhandlung is a bookstore in Moabit that has been around for some 40 years - servicing the locals with not only books, but also CDs and events. After 40 years in the business, their message was simple - just keep on going, this will all pass. Support Dorotheenstädtische Buchhandlung when in Moabit next time!

As part of our small documentary that we are working on we wanted to feature another business that has found a way to stay busy and support itself during COVID-19 - Velophil Alt-Moabit. Their message is simple - shop local, support local businesses. Velophil has been in Moabit for over 30 years and has a long history of serving not only its local clientele, but also people from all over Germany. As a bike store they not only offer repair services, but they offer high-end bicycles that can't be found everywhere, especially in the same store. But at Velophil they can. With the Corona crisis they have been forced to rethink how they do business and have found new ways to not only be safe, but more productive. For more information please head to their website! https://velophil.berlin/

As part of our small documentary that we are working on we wanted to feature another business that has found a way to stay busy and support itself during COVID-19 - Kulturfabrik Moabit. Their message is simple - take the positives from the situation, continue to help each other, and find the opportunities that are present here. Kulturfabrik Moabit is a community center in the district, featuring a theatre, movie theatre, open air theatre, club, cafe, work station for local bike repairs and other projects, as well as a free time program for children in the area. With COVID-19 they were forced to shutdown and think up new ways to keep their business afloat. That is why they announced at donation campaign where any and all can support them. Please check out their website and donate here: http://kulturfabrik-moabit.de/kufa/produkt/corona-eats-kulturfabrik-help-us-please/ When the crisis is past they will be making a "wall of fame" where the names of all the donors will be placed on placards as their way of saying thank you for all of the support.

As part of our small documentary that we are working on we wanted to feature another business that has found a way to stay open - Obst & Gemüse at the Arminiusmarkthalle here in Moabit. Klaus Bergmann has run this shop for 2 years and when the shutdown began in Berlin, he and others in the Market Hall stayed open as he felt a social responsibility to be there for his customers. With the new measures in place to help keep people safe and at a distance, and after figuring out how he would continue to get his produce to the Market, Klaus and Obst & Gemüse are still open and there to serve. Get inspired by Klaus and make sure you visit him! And, if you want to support local businesses in your area, add them to this map and share it with friends and family! bit.ly/map-support-local-business

With so many shops having to shut down because of COVID-19, there are many that are re-inventing how they do business. The moa cafe & bar has been here in Moabit, Berlin since 2013. With the changes required after the outbreak of COVID-19, they decided to do everything they could to stay open. Here is how they have done it.