Tölzer innkeepers are fighting for their existence: "Don't know yet where the journey will go"

The economies in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district have reopened. But despite numerous holidaymakers and day trippers, many restaurateurs are fighting for their existence.

• More and more corona restrictions are being relaxed. Especially restaurateurs are now hoping for many guests again.
• In the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, however, guests in the taverns are still waiting.
• For many hosts, their existence is at stake. 

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - escorting guests to the square, taking their personal details, operating with a mask, disinfecting everything after each visitor, distance between tables: The requirements for catering establishments are still high. In the past few days, only the opening time outside has been relaxed. You can now entertain there as well as inside until 10 p.m. Many restaurant owners are relieved. Nevertheless, normal sales are not in sight for most.

No major events: The Jailhouse in Bad Tölz suffers from the corona restrictions

Peter Frech, owner of the Tölz "Jailhouse", only reopened his restaurant last Friday. In the phase when only outside dining was allowed, “it would not have been worthwhile to start up the whole apparatus. These are immense costs that we would never have taken, ”he explains. On Pentecost weekend, “it was halfway,” he says, “but I could have saved myself the Friday before. There were hardly any guests there. ”His first assessment:“ We made two thirds less sales than normal. ”

The "jailhouse" also suffers from the failing major events such as the US car meeting, which usually takes place at Pentecost. “We are a fun gastronomy, and that just doesn't exist anymore. We don't have walk-in customers for this, ”explains Frech. In addition, the landlord had accommodated him with the lease "no millimeters". The lease runs until March 2021. “I still don't know where the journey is going. The end of the 'jailhouse' cannot be ruled out. ”

Tourists in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen region are more interested in nature

Jürgen Kunert, host of the "Einbachmühle" in Wackersberg and the new Mexican restaurant "La Jordana" in Bad Tölz, is similarly desperate. “The to-go offer was very well received. This allowed us to stay afloat, not least thanks to our regular guests, ”he says. In contrast, the reopening of the restaurant business is extremely slow. "The tourists are more likely to look for destinations in nature." Therefore, the hoped-for business was largely absent from his restaurants even at Pentecost. "You can tell that many are still very careful," says Kunert,

“It started very slowly,” confirms Katharina Goldner, landlady from the Wackersberger “Altwirt”. It was only on Whit Monday that I noticed that more tourists and day trippers came to the district. "It went really well there," says Goldner. Since the reopening, she has noticed that the business has become “very weather-dependent”. “Most don't want to sit inside yet. So we hardly have any guests when it rains, ”she says. "Fortunately, the fact that I can still serve 120 seats in the garden plays into my cards."

Taverns find creative ways to attract guests 

Guido and Juliane Weigel, the landlords from the “Klosterbräustüberl” in Benediktbeuern, have had similar experiences. "It's double the work for less sales," says Juliane Weigl. Since the beginning of the holiday, more guests would have come, "but as soon as it rains, it's really mau." In order to create a bit more normal atmosphere, the innkeepers came up with something: "Since we are no longer allowed to play a brass band on Sunday , we set up dolls in costume and instruments on our stage, and there is brass music playing in the background, ”says the landlady. 

Peter Frech hopes that soon more guests will come to his restaurant "Jailhouse".

© Pröhl

But despite all efforts to convey a feeling of everyday life, the "Klosterbräustüberl" can by no means work with full staff, Weigel emphasizes. We currently have half of wait staff, ”says the landlady. The fact that she can now serve her guests outside until 10 p.m. was a “necessary relaxation”. She notices that many accept this offer. "Because people are careful and don't want to sit down."

Tölzer tradition house Binderbräu is closed for the time being 

Elisabeth Adlwarth is the host of the “Dorfschänke” in Lenggries. She also suffered greatly from the corona-related closure. But even after that, the business "got off to a slow start". Holidaymakers who are currently traveling in the region “are doing a little better, but it is still noticeable that fewer locals come to eat with me. People are still very cautious, ”says Adlwarth.

This is exactly what led Andreas Binder to shut down operations again. For the time being, the Tölzer "Binderbräu" remains closed. "It was not economically viable," he says. “The restaurant is large, we have enormous electricity costs for the cold stores alone. And the guests are still very reserved. ”According to Binder, it was also not possible to“ transport the Bavarian inn mentality ”with the regulations. So far, the plan had to be reopened at peak times, such as during the vacation periods of other federal states. For this, he envisaged July 1st. But Binder wants to counter rumors: "We have not closed because of a corona case, nor will Binderbräu stay forever."

Tourism in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen region has picked up speed again

Finally tourists can sail across the Kochelsee again. Shipping has resumed operations.

Tourism should also start again at Lake Walchensee. Controls and more parking spaces are intended to prevent traffic chaos. 

The mountain railways are running again. On Blomberg and Brauneck things were quiet.

Rubric list image: © Pröhl