Wuppertal-based Robert Düssel and Ulrich Volmer (Düssel & Volmer Immobilien eGbR) acquire the listed building complex in Barmen.
Concordia House has new owners. Since 1 September 2026, the listed complex on Werth has belonged to Wuppertal developers and investors Robert Düssel and Ulrich Volmer. They have acquired a building that has shaped the centre of Barmen for generations. The Concordia society will remain in the building with its halls for the long term.
Both buyers have close ties to the city and have invested in Wuppertal for years. Robert Düssel will be responsible for development, planning and construction, drawing on his experience from numerous successful refurbishments.
The task is substantial. Around two thirds of the approximately 9,400 m² of usable space is vacant, extensive renovation is needed, and the building’s protected status sets conditions for every intervention.
The first phase will focus on the retail units and façades. Robert Düssel and Ulrich Volmer are already seeking tenants for the retail space and welcome enquiries from interested parties.
There are specific ideas for cultural and public uses for the former cinema centre, which covers around 3,000 m². Nothing has been decided yet; planning is still at an early stage.
The name Fita-Palast brings back memories for many Wuppertal residents. From 1948 to 1998, Barmen’s largest cinema occupied the two large Concordia halls and had 1,400 seats. Visitors entered through the passage between Lindenstraße and Concordienstraße. This part of the building has been awaiting a new purpose since the cinema closed.
Michael Schmidt-Russnak, director of the Concordia society, played an important role in the change of ownership. He actively supported the sales process and strongly advocated to the previous owner for a sale to Düssel and Volmer. Brockhoff also advised on the transaction.
“For Concordia, it was essential that this building go to local buyers who will invest in it and who have the construction expertise and experience to understand what renovating and restructuring an existing property entails. An investor who knows the city well and thinks long term is a better solution for the location than a purely financial investment,” says Michael Schmidt-Russnak.
“We know we are taking on a major task. The building belongs to Barmen, and it should be fully used again. We want to preserve its character while giving it a viable future. We will proceed step by step, drawing on our Wuppertal network,” says Robert Düssel.
“We are taking a long-term view. A quick resale is not our aim; we want to keep the building,” adds Ulrich Volmer.
The development of Concordia House aligns with the goals of ISEK Barmen, the district’s integrated urban development plan. Reviving the upper floors and retail units should bring more footfall to the Werth pedestrian zone. The “new Werth” is being created directly outside the building through the Kulturteppich Barmen project. A redesigned Werth can support the town centre only if the surrounding buildings also participate. Robert Düssel and Ulrich Volmer are therefore seeking discussions with the city, ISG Barmen-Werth and Barmen Urban.
The project is also a commitment to their home city: an investment in Wuppertal and the preservation of a building that is part of Barmen’s long history.
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About Brockhoff
Brockhoff GmbH is one of Germany’s leading commercial real estate agencies and the market leader in the Ruhr region. Founded in Essen by Eckhard Brockhoff in 1987, the owner-managed company draws on 39 years of experience in marketing properties across the OFFICE, INVEST, RETAIL and LOGISTICS sectors. Its services include the nationwide sale of office and investment properties, office leasing with a focus on the Ruhr region, the brokerage of retail properties in prime locations in German towns and cities, and the leasing and sale of logistics properties. ADOMO acquired a 41% stake in Brockhoff in 2021. The remaining 59% is still held by founder and managing partner Eckhard Brockhoff.