Rogacki, the 97-year-old smokehouse and delicatessen in Charlottenburg, is reported to have shut its doors after the unexpected death of owner Dietmar Rogacki. As the third-generation owner of the infamous Charlottenburg location, Rogacki sadly passed away in May due to a house fire (police investigation is on-going).

Rogacki has been an established West Berlin feature since it opened its doors in 1928 as a smoked goods store. With a move from Wedding to Charlottenburg in 1932, the shop on Wilmersdorfer Straße became a staple for Berliners from all corners of the city. Throughout the years they expanded to include a variety of seafood, meats, and cheeses in their store, as well as classic deli items like fresh breads, pastas, and gourmet imported goods. Rogacki has always stayed true to its age-old identity of smoked fish, meat, and traditional German deli food, never being swayed by whatever food trends are in vogue.

According to reports from Tagesspiegel, as of this past weekend the fridges are dark, the counters empty, and the handwritten signs on the windows say simply: “Temporarily closed.” And from what staff have been saying, there are no plans to keep the establishment running. The crew have been seen packing up their lockers, and the space on Wilmersdorfer Straße stands empty.

However, its closure doesn’t come as a huge surprise. Even before Dietmar’s death, Rogacki was struggling. Bureaucratic pressure, rising costs, and modern food safety standards had taken their toll. The regulars noticed and so did we: opening hours were erratic, the team understaffed, and more than a few fans spoke of a place in slow decline. In fact, our favourite dish, the smoked eel platter, disappeared around 2 years ago. Berlin’s booming delivery culture and new-wave delis didn’t help either. Simply put, Rogacki’s classic and old-fashioned brand wasn’t jelling with the current food landscape of minimalistic wine bars and tapas-style eats.

In a city that seems to always manage the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, it is sad to see the time-honoured deli of Rogacki close its doors.