Thomas Letsch took over the club restaurant of VfB Forstinning at the end of July 2019. In the Corona crisis, he can count on the help of the players.
Forstinning - With a modern interior and high hopes, Thomas Letsch made a fresh start at the newly built clubhouse in the Forstinninger Sportpark at the end of July 2019. The 42-year-old restaurateur wanted to return to his roots in the Ebersberg district with his wife Maria, 35, and the two children through “Zum Elfer”.
Letsch's “Childhood Dream” with restaurant, bar and terrace was well received by athletes and visitors not only on the home game days of the district league team from VfB. The traditional Bavarian cuisine with international influences - for example an asparagus pan with scampi in soy sauce - was convincing. Now the dining room at Aicherstraße 8 is empty, the terrace is deserted and the sports facility is closed by the authorities.
Future concerns are big
The future concerns are big for the native Forstinninger, who wore the VfB dress himself when he was young. In the political priority list, gastronomy is currently very low down in the gradual reopening process. "Of course I didn't imagine it all that way. It doesn't look rosy, the staff is suffering, ”Letsch says on the phone. The Corona virus has already shot the “911” more than just a successful spring season.
"We support our landlord to the best of our ability and try everything so that he stays with us," emphasizes Thomas Herndl. As head of the VfB-Kicker department, he is not only a regular at Letsch, but also proud of the level of willingness to help from his own ranks for the “911”.
Players support their club manager
“The players definitely support me. On call from the delivery service or by ordering food and buying vouchers, ”says the innkeeper. One of the guys would be in the shop every day and supply customers for him free of charge. Vice-captains Mathias Hirt, Sebastian Hollerieth and Stefan Grasser are "always extremely at the start" and behind the wheel. “But the club also supports me by saying: If you can pay the lease, good. If not, that's not a problem. "
Letsch can still stay afloat despite a 60 percent drop in sales. "Only this condition should not last the whole year." In the crisis, the Forstinninger does not only want to rely on the help of the club members. He quickly made his delivery and ordering service public on his homepage and on social networks and adjusted the opening hours to meet demand. “For the companies outside, we are now also offering a small lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is well received. Just like our relatively late opening times from 5 to 9.30 p.m. ”
Game play and team evenings are missing the most
What he currently lacks most are the games and the team evenings in the box office. In this respect, Letsch is very keen to reopen the sports facility soon. With regard to the current discussion about the procedure of the Bavarian Football Association, the club owner “doesn't care” whether the football season will continue or restart. The main thing is that the ball rolls again. "Of course, without the games, I have losses. Therefore, I would never sue the association. "
Padding instead of complaining is Letsch's motto: For Father's Day on Thursday, May 21, he plans to offer connector fish and suckling pig from the grill in or at the Forstinninger “Elfer”. “Should we even be allowed to open then, I want to organize a three-man band. For the feeling of normalcy. ”Letsch expects normal operation at the end of Pentecost at the earliest. Even then the fear of the people is still noticeable, the reservation inquiries are probably rather hesitant, which is why he is not planning a second reopening.
The Letsch family can count on a clientele. "The players and coaches will definitely come in after the training." Until then, Thomas Letsch made a request to the public on behalf of all colleagues: "If you only order or collect food from your favorite restaurant once a week, every restaurateur will be helped. Every euro helps us at the moment. ”JULIAN BETZL
