Hünenberg, 17.11.2022

Opening of the Maihölzli shopping centre

The shops of the Maihölzli development in Hünenberg will be opening their doors on 24 November. The Schleiss family, who will be represented themselves in the new centre with their chemist’s shop and a café-bistro, have made a significant contribution to this.

For 37 years, Peter Schleiss has been advising and looking after customers in his chemist’s shop (drugstore) in the Dorfgässli in the centre of Hünenberg. He is now figuratively packing his suitcases, together with his son Darko and his five employees, and is moving into the new Maihölzli development. The Migros branch with a post office and a kiosk will also open there on 24 November. At the same time, Darko Schleiss will take over the management of the chemist’s shop under the new name "Drogerie Schleiss".

But that's not all: his sister Deborah will also be active in the new development in the future. Namely with the café-bar Maihölzli, where she will tempt shoppers with exquisite coffee roasts from local production, tea from her brother's store and small snacks. This many-sided commitment of the Hünenberg family is no coincidence, however.

Commitment to a vibrant store culture
Peter Schleiss has been committed to development of the area in Hünenberg since the 1990s. He founded the Hünenberger Fachgeschäfte (Hünenberg speciality shops) association, and was later the co-founder of the local trade association. The druggist noted that the footfall frequency in the shops had stagnated, even though the village has experienced a brisk immigration.

"It was important to me that the inhabitants could shop in their own village and not have to travel to the surrounding centres," he explains.

That’s why he began negotiations with Migros many years ago. After some persuasion, he was able to achieve his aim: Migros is now setting up a branch in the village. The Schleiss family acquired one of the shops in Maihölzli right next door, and started planning their move. "The location will be better for us," says Schleiss senior. "It is centrally located on the main road and closer to the customer flows." But the Dorfgässli was also a good address.

"We were able to count on a loyal clientele, so that our business could flourish over this long period of time."

His wife Margrit first worked actively in the store, before founding her own cosmetics company on the Chamerstrasse in Hünenberg, which she ran for 27 years. "Today, I'm a silent advisor in the background and a caregiver for the grandchildren," she says with a smile.

The drugstore in Dorfgässli will become the Drogerie Schleiss in the Hünenberg Maihölzli development. There will also a new café-bistro. Deborah, Margrit, Peter and Darko Schleiss are looking forward to the new beginning
The carpenters are still at work inside the new development in Hünenberg, where the Drogerie Schleiss and the Maihölzli café-bar will open on 24 November. Together with the Schleiss family, we’re all excited to see the final result.                 
Photos: Matthias Jurt

Already part of their everyday business life as children
Peter and Margrit Schleiss are very pleased with the handover of the business to their son Darko. "It's the very best thing when you can pass on your company to the next generation. And our daughter will also be there with her café," says Peter Schleiss happily.

The business acumen of the Schleiss family and their loyalty to their home community of Hünenberg are extraordinary. "Even as children, we were part of our parents' day-to-day business," says Deborah Schleiss, stressing: "Despite this, or perhaps because of this, we lacked nothing."

She remembers how she and her brother stormed in to the shop door after school and ran into the office to greet their father. "That was formative for us."

Even stronger focus on naturopathy
Darko Schleiss nods, but adds: "The business environment of a local chemist’s shop has become more difficult over the years." The comprehensive care and health product ranges of major distributors, as well as online trading in the future, will put a lot of pressure on druggists.

In order to continue to exist, you have to stand out in some way.
We rely on sound advice and on our natural healing products.”
The drugstore in Hünenberg is well known for this outside the canton of Zug, and even abroad.

Darko Schleiss wants to continue the new business in a similar way to his father before. "I want to focus even more on the strengths of herbal medicine with drops, teas, baths and emulsions. This area has not yet been exhausted."

In the future, he wants to do without products that can be obtained everywhere, and, instead, include special quality products in the product range, for which he will also offer intensive advice:

I’m looking forward to the challenge and the clientele at the new Maihölzli location.”

The following shops will open in the Maihölzli development in Hünenberg on 24 November: the Drogerie Schleiss (www.drogerie-schleiss.ch), a Migros branch with post office, a kiosk and the Maihölzli café-bar (www.cafebarmaihoelzli.ch). The local branch of Zuger Kantonalbank (www.zugerkb.ch) will also be celebrating its reopening at Chamerstrasse 11 in Hünenberg after its modernisation.