Rottenbuch: An artist takes over the art café at the gate

Created: 10/11/2022, 4:00 p.m

By: Katrin Kleinschmidt

The Kunstcafé am Tor will remain in Rottenbuch: Mario Albrecht will take over the catering from Lena Kaufmann-Friedberger.

© Katrin Kleinschmidt

Breathe a sigh of relief in Rottenbuch: A successor was found for the art café at the gate: Mario Albrecht, restaurateur and artist, takes over.

However, there will not be a seamless transition.

After closing on October 15, it is expected to start again in mid-November.

Rottenbuch – Lena Kaufmann-Friedberger is slowly realizing that saying goodbye will not be easy.

After twelve years, she has decided to give up the Kunstcafé am Tor in Rottenbuch.

On October 15, her time as landlady ends with a day of celebration.

"I'm sad," she admits.

But she no longer shakes her decision – the mother of two girls (four and eight years old) would like to have more time for her family.

And now she can take it with a clear conscience.

Because Kaufmann-Friedberger has found a successor who will continue the café: Mario Albrecht.

"I'm very happy that it's going on," she says.

"He's predestined.

He is an artist and restaurateur.”

Albrecht led the Löwenhof in Schongau for twelve years

And no stranger in the Schongau area either.

For twelve years, until 2011, Albrecht ran the Löwenhof in Schongau.

He then trained as a blacksmith and then attended the Academy for Design and Crafts in Munich.

He focused on jewelry that he made from plastic mesh.

Since the corona pandemic was also a difficult time for artists, "I started back in gastro at the time," says Albrecht.

"There she caught me again."

The location in Rottenbuch is perfect for the new operator

Albrecht worked at Bootshaus-Schongau until recently.

He only wanted to take over his own gastronomy “if the location was right”.

He found one with the art café at the gate.

"I think the idea of ​​combining art and a café is great," says Albrecht.

The restaurant also has a beautiful garden.

The location in Rottenbuch is perfect for the 44-year-old, who has lived in the village for two years.

"Now I don't have to drive every day."

But there won't be a smooth transition.

Albrecht originally wanted to open at the beginning of November, but for organizational reasons it will probably be a little later.

He leases the rooms from Kaufmann-Friedberger.

The two have known each other for quite a while.

At a wedding in the Rottenbucher rooms, Albrecht had helped with the catering.

"We got along well right away," Kaufmann-Friedberger recalls.

When the artist and restaurateur stopped by the art café at the beginning of September and asked if he could do it, she was immediately impressed.

She hopes "that the guests will continue to come".

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"Every restaurateur has his fingerprint"

You don't have to change completely.

"It won't be a Löwenhof 2.0.

In principle, many things will remain the same,” says Albrecht.

“But something will definitely change.

Every restaurateur has their fingerprint.” The 44-year-old would like to keep the opening hours similar – the café is currently open six days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, artists from the region should have the opportunity to exhibit their works there - after about two months it will be the turn of the next one.

Peter Mayr from Peiting starts things off.

In addition, Albrecht is planning more evening events than before, with local musicians.

Author readings are also conceivable.

“It will all come about.” Albrecht hardly has time for his own art at first.

“A café like this is a 24/7 job,” he says.

Kaufmann-Friedberger can confirm that.

But soon a quieter time begins for them.

Before she takes on a new professional challenge - she doesn't yet know in which direction she will go - she would like to take a break.

Do things she never got around to.

"I wrote down in a little book what I want to do now."

Lena Kaufmann-Friedberger celebrates her farewell on October 15th.

Then there will be a white sausage meal from 10 a.m.

Christian Schwarz will be playing from 10.30 a.m., the Kurzweil Orchestra from 2 p.m. and the party with the “Besserwisser Blues Band” from 6 p.m.

Further information is available by phone at 08867/921040.

You can find more current news from the region around Schongau at Merkur.de/Schongau.