The days of the traditional Erlangen pub Kaiser Wilhelm are numbered. Completely surprisingly, the operators have to close.
Erlangen – The operators of the traditional Kaiser Wilhelm pub are angry. The restaurant has been offering classic Franconian dishes such as Blaue Zipfel and bratwurst in the heart of Erlangen for nine years. The small business is doing well, we were able to safely survive Corona, the energy crisis, inflation and a year of being completely covered in scaffolding, as Lena Brunnberg, co-operator of Kaiser Wilhelm, explains to our editorial team. That's why the end comes as such a surprise.
“We absolutely did not expect that it could even come to such an end. “We are extremely sad, but also incredibly angry,” said Brunnberg. “What’s happening here just isn’t fair.”
Soon there will be no more weekly “Currywurst Day”, no “Schnaps Night” on Tuesdays and no more dart rounds from the Dartverein Erlangen eV, which even produced a professional player. It wasn't until the end of February that another cult restaurant said goodbye forever.
Sudden end after nine years: “That was never our wish”
The operators informed their guests about the sudden closure via a notice. “You will probably be as surprised as we are: we are closing. After nine years of laughing, crying, chatting, drinking and dancing, we suddenly have to leave!” it says. It breaks the hearts of the operators to have to give up this place. “That was never our wish.”
Brunnberg cites the landlord's new contract conditions as the reason. The rent should be increased by almost double, as documents available to our editorial team show.
"It's going to be very strange to close this place for the last time, I'm really afraid of that."
Lena Brunnberg from Kaiser Wilhelm in Erlangen
When asked by our editorial team, the landlords explained that the percentage increase in the price of a pork schnitzel (2016: 8.50 euros, 2024: 13.90 euros) was used as a reference to the increase in the rent. “Comparable leases and the number of possible seats were also taken into account when determining the price.” According to the owners, there was no “constructive response to the four contract proposals.”
Brunnberg and her business partner Dion Oppolzer sought advice from a lawyer for a negotiation meeting. However, the suggested changes were only made fun of, the operator remembers the conversation. The two parties did not reach a consensus. “We were simply not offered an acceptable option to continue here,” reports Brunnberg angrily. It wasn't just the increased rent that was crucial. “But the worst thing is that our trust was so abused and all the work of the last nine years was trampled on.”
Traditional pub will close in April: “I’m really afraid of that”
Every sentence from Brunnberg reflects their anger and disappointment. “We absolutely did not expect that it could even come to such an end.” Nine years ago they took over the store, which, according to Brunnberg, was completely devastated and had a bad reputation. They prepared everything with their own hands and paid for it themselves. Therefore, it “just seems like a complete mockery that we should now pay almost double the rent for what we built ourselves.”
The operators are trying to keep the Kaiser Wilhelm open for guests until April 23rd, after which it will be over. Saying goodbye is not easy for them. “We have been going in and out of the Kaiser Wilhelm for so many years and have certainly both spent more time here in recent years than in our own home,” explains Brunnberg. “It's going to be very strange to close it here for the last time, I'm really afraid of that.” What happens next for her is still unclear.
“I see black for the catering industry”
Since the Corona pandemic, the catering industry has repeatedly suffered from problems. A lack of staff and price increases due to inflation are bringing companies to their knees and some are giving up. The Lönneberger in Nuremberg is one of them.
After this experience, Brunnberg also sees the future of catering businesses at risk. “If the landlords now interfere in ongoing operations like this and think that just because they see a full beer garden they can fish something out of it, I unfortunately see black for the catering industry.”
(tkip)