Foundations.
In 1872, Carl Treptow founded a hardware and textile store in Arneburg, two hours north of Berlin.
His apprentice Walter Hampel understood the potential of transforming the concept into what would become the modern Department Store, pioneered by Abraham Wertheim et al.
Kicking it off.
Starting in 1909, Walter Hampel founded what would become one of Berlin’s leading Department Stores at the time, “Walter Hampel Einzelhandsgeschaeft”, located at 82/83 Frankfurter Allee.
Growing Berlin.
In the early 1920s, Walter Hampel (who was an avid nature lover)invented a patented method of moving fully-grown trees. Berlin, which was rapidly growing at the time, happily employed Walter to supply grown trees for its newly built projects (including the trees you can see at Messe Berlin even today)and named a park in West Berlin after him, “Hampelsche Baumschule”.
Giving Back.
After WWII, food and fire wood were scarce. Walter Hampel and his family converted the family estate (in what is today Marienfelde) to a farming compound, supplying their community with fresh produce and wood to survive the harsh winters. Finally, in 1967, the family developed a plan together with the City of Berlin to convert the grounds into one of Berlin’s largest social housing project to this day, the “Großwohnsiedlung Waldsassener Straße”.
Building Back.
Starting in 1949, Walter Hampel’s son in law, Dr. Heinrich Reisser, started and led the Berliner Industrie Bank, which was tasked by the Allied Forces to supply money for rebuilding the city of Berlin (“Marshall Plan”). Heinrich was convinced the city had the potential to live up to London and Paris and funded all kinds of real estate ventures (incl. West Berlin’s “Europa Center”).
Going forward.
With its family history closely interwoven, Reisser Capital aims to support innovative business ideas, improving our way of life and fostering a sustainable future.
Together, just like the past 100 years.
