In the early 1900s, Jewish merchants Hermann Joseph and Sally Rehfisch established the Warenhaus (department store) H. Joseph & Co. in Neukölln. Initially a fashion store, it quickly gained popularity and became the largest department store in the neighborhood. In 1928, the store underwent another major expansion, during which the new and magnificent Art Nouveau façade extended across the entire street frontage between Neckarstraße and Jägerstraße (today’s Rollbergstraße). Behind the main entrance, a large inner courtyard featured a wide central staircase beneath a glass dome. 

The store not only offered a wide variety of goods, but also hosted cultural events, making it a favorite shopping destination for Berlin residents. Its elegant architecture and strategic location at a bustling intersection in Neukölln contributed to its popularity. However, its dominance was challenged when the Karstadt department store opened on Hermannplatz, creating another prominent shopping center in the area.

The rise of the Nazi regime in the 1930s marked the beginning of the end for Warenhaus H. Joseph & Co. Like many Jewish-owned businesses, the store faced increasing persecution under the antisemitic policies of the Third Reich. It was “aryanized”, forcibly transferred to non-Jewish ownership, and Hermann Joseph and his family were stripped of their livelihoods. Despite the forced change in management, the store struggled to maintain its former glory and eventually ceased operations during the war. After World War II, the building served various purposes but never reclaimed its status as a retail giant. It now stands as a somber reminder of a vibrant past, marred by the atrocities of the Holocaust.