In the location's words:

Welcome to Ludwig, an institution with a rich history and cultural heritage. Founded by Gerhard Ludwig at Cologne railroad station after the war, the Ludwig bookshop became famous throughout Germany in the 1950s as the host of the legendary Wednesday Talks. In 1988, the bookshop was acquired by Dr. Adam-Claus Eckert as "Buchhandlung Gerhard Ludwig GmbH" and has been an important part of the Dr. Eckert Group (UGDE) ever since. Today, 13 Ludwigs are operated under the management of UGDE, including one of the largest German railroad station bookshops at Leipzig Central Station.