Jena, 29.04.2026. The district of Wenigenjena is facing another vacancy. Two established sports clubs are expected to vacate their shared premises by the end of the year and are desperately seeking affordable alternatives in the Lichtstadt.
- Affected Clubs: Table Football Club „Paradise Fusion“ and „Darts Paradies“ Jena
- Current Location: An der Leite 9, 07749 Jena
- Background: The joint lease expires at the end of 2026.
- Local Context: Growing vacancy around the Geschwister-Scholl-Denkmal (including Kwak-Bäcker, former pub „Kastanie“, empty shop windows in Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 10).
Uncertain Future from 2027
Since 2020, the table football club „Paradise Fusion“ and the Jena darts club „Darts Paradies“ have shared a clubhouse in Wenigenjena. However, this era is coming to an end. As Daniel Görlich, chairman of the table football club, confirms, the lease for the premises in the street An der Leite 9 expires in a few months. What happens from 2027 onwards is currently completely open.
Financially, the clubs are on solid ground. Regular tournaments and events generate sufficient funds to cover running costs. The problem lies rather in the lack of available suitable commercial properties. “We have been looking for a new – if possible and affordable, also larger – club home for some time,” explains Görlich. The preferred option remains a shared home for both clubs, but as a precaution, separate options are also being sought throughout the city.
Wave of Closures in Wenigenjena
The impending move of the sports clubs follows a notable series of business closures in the vicinity of the Geschwister-Scholl-Denkmal. Just last Saturday, the local branch of the Kwak-Bäcker bakery closed its doors for good. In the immediate neighborhood, the long-vacant rooms of the former pub „Kastanie“ and the tarp-covered windows of an apartment building in Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 10 bear witness to the current structural challenges of the district.
Background: Commercial Decline and Lack of Space in Jena-Ost
The district of Wenigenjena, often colloquially called Jena-Ost, is considered one of the most popular and densely populated residential areas in the city. Historically characterized by a lively mix of small businesses, crafts, and gastronomy along the main thoroughfares, the district has been experiencing significant structural change for several years. Rising rents, staff shortages in the trades, and changing consumer habits are affecting many traditional businesses.
For clubs, the real estate situation in the university city of Jena represents a chronic problem. The extremely high demand for housing and space for science and high-tech industries is driving square-meter prices up sharply. Affordable spaces suitable for club activities in the evening hours (such as darts or table football tournaments) without provoking conflicts with residents due to noise levels are hardly to be found on the open market anymore.
Source:
Thüringen: Ghostly feeling in Jena district – next vacancy looms
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.