Itzehoer Tourist-Info opens after moving to the Feldschmiede

The Itzehoe Tourist Information Office has moved into its new location in the upper Feldschmiede. Town manager Lars Büttner and his team are delighted with the improved facilities and are planning a new feature. “In terms of space, it’s almost perfect.” That’s the sound of a satisfied city manager. Lars Büttner and his team have […]

The Itzehoe Tourist Information Office has moved into its new location in the upper Feldschmiede. Town manager Lars Büttner and his team are delighted with the improved facilities and are planning a new feature.

“In terms of space, it’s almost perfect.” That’s the sound of a satisfied city manager. Lars Büttner and his team have moved the tourist information office from Breite Straße to the upper Feldschmiede. The doors will open there for the first time on Wednesday, February 5, at 10 am.

Quick relocation of the tourist information office

The move took three working days and Wankendorfer, as the landlord, was very accommodating, says Büttner. “We were extremely quick, it worked really well. We are also already largely set up.” The technology is up and running and all services can be offered. Looking around the new store, he notes: “What’s still missing a bit is the decoration.”

This refers to the walls and the now much larger shop windows, with the Wankendorfer awning hanging outside – it has yet to become apparent that the tourist information office is now housed here. But Büttner is happy to say goodbye to the previous building: “The building was recently a construction site and is just as much in need of a major refurbishment as the neighboring Steinburg. There, customers with walkers often stood in front of the steps and could only be served outside. Now the entrance is at ground level: “For the first time, the tourist information office really is largely barrier-free,” says the city manager.

This is an important feature for another premiere that he is planning: For the first time, Büttner wants to have the tourist information office certified by the German Tourism Association so that it can display the white letter I on a red background, the official symbol. This should happen as soon as possible, preferably before the start of the season in spring: “It’s exciting for us because the view from the outside is very important.”

More space for Itzehoe souvenirs

There is more space inside, so the range of souvenirs and merchandising articles can be expanded. Büttner is particularly interested in cycling tourists on the Ochsenweg or Mönchsweg trails, which conveniently pass right outside the door, as well as guests at the Hotel Breitenburg. And he is already looking forward to when the Wenzel-Hablik Museum, which has moved into temporary accommodation in the same building, presents itself in the store next door.

There are 16 steps up from the tourist information office to the offices directly above. There isn’t much more space, but it’s not as labyrinthine, says the managing director of the city management. He has his own office, as does area manager Mirko Heim. There is also a meeting room and an office for three, where employees Sandy Schippmann and Hanna Seupel are currently setting up. The latter is sorting documents – “we will try to implement the paperless office,” says Büttner. Thanks to the cloud solution, there is a lot of flexibility: “No matter where we are, we take the work with us.”

There is an opportunity to take a break in the spacious kitchen, where a door can be opened to the outside. According to Büttner, this is used to assist passers-by with an urgent need: “Of course, we also become part of the ‘nice toilet’.”

When they moved out of Breite Straße, everything that was needed went with them, the rest ended up in storage – including old files from the early days of the city management. They were not the only find in the cellar: various decorative items are now on display in the shop window in Breite Straße. According to Büttner, they are to be donated to a good cause – the date is still to be decided.

Picture and text: Lars Peter Ehrich, SHZ