Although a small city, shopping in Weiden Germany can be a little intimidating, especially to those who are unfamiliar with the local language.
Today I want to draw your attention to a unique boutique store right off the “fußgänger platz” (pedestrian square) in downtown Weiden.
Like many small shops in Weiden, the tell-tale sign starts outside. A colorful array of outdoor furniture, flower pots, and hand woven baskets draw you in to the many “joys of life.”
Welcome to Lebensfreuden!
Boutique Store in Weiden Germany
On a recent visit, I sat down with owner Sieglinde Scharnagl to learn more about their boutique store, Lebensfreuden, aka “Joys of Life,” which she runs with a few employees and her son Ludwig.
Sieglinde talks about the journey of opening a store with her son Ludwig and the challenges they have overcome.
Working with Down Syndrome in Weiden Germany
The store’s name Lebensfreuden, aka “Joys of Life,” derives from Ludwig’s extraordinarily cheerful and friendly personality, which has become his life motto.
Ludwig was born with down syndrome, so the first thought was to create an opportunity for Ludwig to do the things he loves. Basic skills such as cleaning, operating the cash register, and customer service were natural for him, so he was having fun from the beginning!
I quickly learned that Ludwig is a social butterfly, and loves to connect with the people who walk in the store. He brings a special type of energy that you can’t help but smile at 😊
Having Ludwig work in the store has been a great success because of the skills he has gained.
Ludwig finds working “Great Fun,” and he refuses when offered to take some time off.
Of course, Ludwig has challenges, but like many, we all face social challenges at work that have helped us learn and grow.
So it’s a win for Ludwig to be here every day because he’s challenged to face important life skills.
“A little bit of everything” boutique store in Weiden Germany
The moment you step through the doors of Lebensfreuden, be prepared for your senses to be overloaded. The first thing that got me was the sound of calming music and the sweet smell of “lotions & potions.”
It instantly slowed things down and gave me peace.
Sieglinde designed the boutique store to help you find a “little bit of everything” for anyone on your list.
Take the time to immerse yourself in all that is on display and let yourself be inspired.
With a constantly revolving inventory of hand-picked items, you’ll never know what treasures you’ll find.
For instance, in the shop you might see:
– Greeting cards
– Kitchenware
– Body care
– Foods & seasonings
– Local coffee beans
– Scented candles
– Bags/purses/wallets
– Home decor
– Jewelry
– Pottery
– Clothing
– Seasonal items
Over the years, Sieglinde’s success has resulted in providing items based on customers’ requests.
In the end, they wanted to offer unique quality products that spark joy for you and your family.
You can find Lebensfreuden at Hinterm Zwinger 17, 92637 Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Germany.
Tues – Fri 10am – 6pm
Saturday 10am – 2pm
Phone: 0961 48029571
Find out the all the best places to eat in Weiden Germany!
Shopping in Weiden Germany
In between the many boutique stores throughout Weiden, you can also find shopping for all types of occasions.
The best place to start is through the city shopping website where you’ll see:
– City malls
– International chain stores
– Factory outlets for clothes, textiles, and chocolate
Final Thoughts
Before we wrapped up our conversation at Lebensfreuden, Sieglinde shared a conversation with Ludwig about the shop when they no longer want to work.
Eventually, Ludwig wishes to rent or sell the shop to someone with down syndrome so they can share the same opportunity that he had.
To learn more about their store, visit their website, Facebook page, or walk right in to greet the happy face of Ludwig behind the cash register.
For more information about Weiden, check out our FULL blog post or subscribe to the channel for more videos.
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