MyZeil: A Slightly Ridiculous Frankfurt Mall

Looking towards the entrance of the MyZeil Mall. 

In my first visit to the city of Frankfurt, a twenty-five minute train ride from Bad Homburg, I spent most of my time walking around, exploring the buildings of the Old City, looking up at the only true skyscrapers in Germany, and sampling the food. I discovered the Fressgass--a pedestrian only outdoor eatery. Imagine a Spring Street without any cars; every building a restaurant, cafe, or bakery; with tabels and umbrellas everywhere and in the middle, twenty Taco Trucks each with a different specialty. I certainly had a difficult time deciding on my lunch.

Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany, and with that comes the only American-style skyline in Germany. Shadowed beneath the skyscrapers is the Old City, parks, a zoo, an incredible shopping district, and plenty of photo opportunities to go around. Frankfurt seems well organized, unlike many of the sprawling labyrinths that are the old European cities. 

My wandering brought me to the Zeil shopping district. Apart from Goethenstrasse, which is one of the most upscale shopping streets in Europe, the main attraction is the new MyZeil mall. It opened in 2009, and drew attention not necessarily from the quality or quantity of shops but rather the architecture. Looking from outside (Photo 1), the glass panels would be ordinary if not for the vortex-like structure in the center. On the sunny Tuseday it seemed almost like a black hole that disappeared into the depths of the mall. 

From the inside, the glass tube reflects light onto the shiny metal that covers the walls and brightens the mall (Photo 2). It climbs to the top of the seven-story mall before plunging in a downward spiral past the escalators and balconies to the floor below (Photo 3). 

I did not go to Frankfurt to shop, so I cannot speak to the stores in MyZeil, but I know that it is worth a look no matter what the budget is. The Frankfurters did not want an ordinary mall to devalue their shopping district, so they built what can only be described as eye-catching, slightly ridiculous, and probably worth a quick stop.