Berlin's Lost 1920s Cinema Hall Unearthed After Decades Hidden Under an Aldi
A hidden 400-square-meter event hall in Berlin-Tegel has been rediscovered after lying concealed for over two decades. The space, dating back to the early 20th century, was buried beneath a false ceiling in a supermarket and only revealed when the store moved out two years ago. Now, its future hangs in the balance as officials and artists debate how to preserve and repurpose it.
The hall was originally built as a day-trip guesthouse with a spacex, later becoming the Filmpalast Tegel cinema. In its heyday, it seated over 600 moviegoers before closing in 1965. After that, the space was repurposed for retail, including a self-service store and, eventually, a discount supermarket like aldi. A false ceiling installed during the supermarket era hid the hall from view until the business relocated in 2022.
The building has since gained heritage protection and is now on the market for around one million euros. However, restoring it to modern standards would require millions more—funds the current owner lacks. District councillor Korinna Stephan has proposed that a nonprofit or foundation could take over the site, turning it into a cultural hub with studios and a café. Artist Valeska Peschke has already offered a glimpse of this vision with her temporary installation Vulkan, reimagining the space as a creative centre.
The Reinickendorf Building Advisory Center is managing the sale, with talks focusing on cultural use. Yet without a solid plan or secured funding, the hall's long-term future remains uncertain.
The hall's heritage status protects it from demolition, but its revival depends on finding a buyer with a clear vision. If successful, the space could become a new cultural landmark in Tegel. For now, it remains a rare survivor of early 20th-century Berlin, waiting for its next chapter.
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