Mitchells & Butlers Germany GmbH (MABG) has secured the long-term presence of its ALEX gastronomy business in Dortmund by signing a new lease agreement with the owner of the property on Ostenhellweg. The contract spans 15 years and underscores the company's commitment to the location in the city, established since 1997. This agreement guarantees planning certainty for ALEX on Dortmund's Ostenhellweg for the next decade and a half.
However, before operations can continue, the property faces an extensive transformation phase. The ALEX in the former C&A building will close on 31 August 2026 for an anticipated two-year construction period. The owner, Values Real Estate, plans a comprehensive redesign of the approximately 22,000 square-metre property, which is to be developed from a purely retail use into a mixed-use asset. This construction-related hiatus offers ALEX the opportunity for a significant reorientation.
Upon completion of the modernisation work, the Dortmund restaurant-café will feature a significantly expanded area and a completely redesigned appearance. The leased area will increase by approximately 250 square metres to a total of 670 square metres. In the future, there will be 270 indoor seats, complemented by another 340 seats in the outdoor area on Willy-Brandt-Platz. An open kitchen will enhance the gastronomic offering. MABG is investing approximately EUR 2.1 million from its own cash flow in implementing the current ALEX interior concept “Urban Living”.
The “Urban Living” concept, which has been gradually introduced in all German ALEX outlets since 2022, replaces the previous Mediterranean style. It aims to create a cosy living environment through a skilfully curated variety of styles. Colour schemes, furniture, spatial design, flooring, and decoration will be completely renewed. Natural, ceiling-hung greenery and a harmonious colour scheme with warm cream, green, turquoise, copper, and mustard tones play a central role here. Accents are set by colourful furniture as well as expressive artworks and large-format photo wallpapers with exotic prints.
The design integrates elements of industrial design, combining wooden floors with mosaic tiles and pairing velvet-look armchairs with delicate lounge chairs or tall bistro stools at communicative “Communal Tables”. This creates various zones for lingering, ranging from cosy upholstered corners to a dining room ambiance in front of the open kitchen. This atmosphere is adaptively staged through intelligent music and lighting concepts to offer a suitable ambiance at any time of day.
The two-year closure of the venue results in a challenging staffing situation for the existing ALEX team, as there will be no employment opportunities at the Dortmund location during this period. Mitchells & Butlers Germany GmbH has offered employees the option to transfer to other company operations in Germany. For those who cannot take advantage of this opportunity, especially for personal reasons, operational redundancies associated with the closure are planned. The management regrets this temporary farewell to long-standing employees who have significantly contributed to the success of the location. Upon reopening of the venue in 2028, a new team will be built, with former colleagues invited to reapply.
