Europe’s oldest year-round Christmas shop, Käthe Wohlfahrt, celebrates ten years in York

Based on Stonegate in York, Europe’s oldest Christmas shop, Käthe Wohlfahrt, today (1 August) celebrates ten years since opening its first and only UK store, and in doing so, pays homage to Yorkshire Day.

Founded by Wilhelm and Käthe Wohlfahrt, who fled their home in Saxony with their two young children (Harald and Birgitt) and a music box, to former West Germany in 1956. Little did they know that several years later their treasured music box would spark the future of the company.

Harald Wohlfahrt, son of Wilhelm and Käthe and current Managing Director of the business, was two years old at the time of the family fleeing their home. He remembers very little of that period but does recall: “My mother and father hosted a military family from the US and gifted them as a late Christmas gift a handcrafted traditional German Christmas music box from the Erzgebirge region. This simple gesture accidentally launched the start of the business, which my father affectionately named after my mother. The business idea grew out of a love for a traditional Christmas and the craftsmanship of their home. My father and mother were incredibly proud of their roots and of being caring and hospitable to others. Our values are deeply rooted in every aspect of what we do as a family business.”

Over time, the Käthe Wohlfahrt business grew and today is home to 22 shops spread across the UK, mainland Europe and the USA. Harald recalls with enthusiasm his first visit to York as a tourist over 50 years ago, sharing that he “instantly fell in love with the charm and character of the city”. He kept revisiting the idea of establishing a physical Käthe Wohlfahrt presence in York and, as Harald puts it: “York is rooted in shared festive connections with Germany, including the city’s famous German‑style Christmas Market and shared Victorian heritage, so I wanted to establish shared roots in the city.” And so, Käthe Wohlfahrt made the deliberate choice to open their York shop on Yorkshire Day to honour the city and highlight the Wolhlfahrt family’s long-term commitment to being part of the city’s community. Hundreds of people visited the shop on the first day of opening which is set within the 2,800 sq ft medieval timber‑framed building, built in 1434 and originally occupied by Mulberry Hall.

At the time of the launch, many people questioned the longevity of the shop. Takuma, Grandson of Wilhelm and Käthe and Head of Marketing and Communications, responds: “It’s a fair question, and one we get asked regularly. We intentionally operate our Käthe Wohlfahrt shops using a tourist‑destination model and create unique products designed to last, which naturally appeals to both residents and tourists alike. Because of this, queues outside the shop have remained a permanent fixture from those wishing to shop, browse or learn more about the cultural influences Germany has had on Christmas holidays as a whole. Most Christmas traditions originate from Germany, and we love sharing this with our customers.”

Not only that, but upon opening, the York store came with a big surprise: Having precisely looked at the tourism figures provided by York and comparing them to other Käthe Wohlfahrt locations, Käthe Wohlfahrt management was surprised to see the great success the store had and still has with national visitors from all over the UK and especially Yorkshire!

Aska Wohlfahrt, eldest daughter of Harald Wohlfahrt and Head of Purchasing believes Käthe Wohlfahrt’s continued rise in popularity is due to the diversity of its products. Aska says: “Although we are well-known for our Christmas products, from tree decorations to festive pyramids, and from nativity scenes to outdoor festive lights. We also offer also products including classic teddy bears, table linens, greeting cards, recipe books, wildlife decorations including our ever‑popular glass birds, as well as items for other seasonal occasions such as Halloween, weddings, Valentine’s Day, Easter and much more. These items appeal to a broader range of people, which adds an extra layer of sustainability to the business all year round.”

Although Käthe Wohlfahrt has no current plans to open a second UK store in the foreseeable future, Harald and the team are currently exploring new opportunities across the country. Aska says: “The beauty of York is that it is easily accessible from other major cities such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh, and customers regularly tell us that one of the main reasons for their visit to York is to visit the Käthe Wohlfahrt shop, which shows that what we are doing is working. We currently operate traditional Christmas market booths and seasonal pop‑up shops at German markets and international events like the Chicago Christkindlmarket, and we are exploring how we may do this in the UK in the next five years. The aim of this is to extend awareness of the brand and to encourage more people to visit our store in-person in York.”

Takuma ends: “Although my grandparents, Wilhelm and Käthe Wohlfahrt, are no longer with us, I believe they would be incredibly proud of what we have achieved. My grandfather, Wilhelm, always felt it was a wonderful feeling that the family name is known all over the world, and with my siblings, I hope we can continue to grow the Käthe Wohlfahrt brand and bring more people to York to experience warm‑heartedness, quality and affinity to our heritage.”
To find out more about Käthe Wohlfahrt York, visit 17–19 Stonegate, York YO1 8ZW. Alternatively visit: www.kaethe-wohlfahrt.com