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On Monday 21st July, the Michendorf Service Station (Tankstelle) will be knocked down and replaced with motorway expansion.
The Michendorf rest stop close to Potsdam, south west of
Berlin used to be the last stop in East Germany before West
Berlin. During the Cold War it had been a place where West Berliners
driving through East Germany could grab a cheap bite or share a beer
with some East Germans before crossing the border into the US sector of
the divided city. It was an unofficial meeting point in the divided
Germany, one of the few places where East Germans could meet West
Germans. Unlike Checkpoint Charlie, it was unknown outside of
Germany.
So what has all of this to do with the Irish editor of PetrolWorld!?
Well, in another life time before I came into petrol retail, I was a
travelling customer to the Michendorf service station on a handful of
occasions when I drove my "Dublin registered Renault" between Berlin
and Nurnberg where I lived for a period of time before the wall came
down!
It occurred to me how much Europe has changed dramatically in the last
two decades. Yet most Europeans have forgotten just how much change has
taken place. Then there is a new generation that has not
experienced the older Europe. With regards to petrol retail,
there would have been a much higher number of fuel and service station
brands. Then there would have been a variety of currencies to
deal with. I can recall having up to six different currencies in
my wallet!
Yet now more than ever, I believe there will be changes related
to the the price of fuel and energy that will alter and shape the
future service station and the network of fuel distribution. I look
forward to raising this issue of the future service station in the
PetrolWorld Journal. For now "Happy holidays and safe driving!"
........and what of Michendorf?
Bärbel Grossmann of the local historical society in Michendorf told
German media that they had tried to have the rest stop turned into a
museum in 2000, but "it was too late." Plans to expand the A10 highway
had been approved, and it was now impossible to list the site as a
protected building. Local conservationists had only realized the
importance of the rest stop in 1998.
The Michendorf historical society did manage to collect material from
the rest stop, including menus and photographs, which were displayed in
an exhibition at a local museum a few years ago. The society is now
compiling a brochure to chronicle the history of the building, which
was built in 1938 in the style of an old German country house.
The last guests were served at the Michendorf rest stop last week,
Tuesday 15th July 2008. Then, at 2 p.m., manager Cornelia Wirth, who
began her working life there as a waitress 34 years ago, shut the door
for the last time.
David Egan
PetrolWorld
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