Approval Granted for Second Brothel Location in Berlin: Expansion of Adult Entertainment Establishment in the City Affirmed by the Court
In a significant development for Berlin's regulatory landscape for brothels, the Artemis, one of Germany's largest brothels, is set to expand to a new location. The decision, made by the Berlin Administrative Court, concludes a years-long dispute with the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district and overturns the district's previous refusal to grant the necessary permits for expansion.
The new Artemis location will be a run-down warehouse near the A100 Autobahn, which will be converted into a 32-room brothel. The expansion comes after a legal victory that cleared the way for a second location, following a ruling in favour of the Şimşek brothers, the operators of Artemis.
Despite past controversies, including a 2016 police raid for alleged tax evasion and links to organized crime, the charges against Artemis were dismissed, and the city had to apologise and pay compensation. Since then, the Şimşek brothers have emphasised their commitment to regulated, legal sex work, with hygiene and safety standards exceeding legal requirements.
The new location will address noise concerns with soundproofing measures to counter traffic and train activity. The planned site for Artemis' expansion, previously used for wine storage, will include rooms for self-employed sex workers and rest areas.
Critics within the district remain uneasy about the Artemis expansion, although the decision can still be appealed. Advocates argue that more regulated venues like Artemis help combat illegal prostitution, which surged during the pandemic.
The Artemis expansion site is located outside a formal urban development zone but is considered permissible due to its accessible location and minimal impact on public interests. The decision to allow the expansion of Artemis is a notable development in the city's regulatory landscape for brothels.
In light of their legal victory, the Şimşek brothers plan to invest in the city's real-estate market by converting a run-down warehouse into a high-standard 32-room brothel for artemis. This expansion in finance and business is expected to improve the regulatory landscape for brothels in Berlin, potentially reducing illegal prostitution in the city.
