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Shock for Plauen: Gastrofabrik closes all restaurants – a bitter farewell!
The Gastrofabrik in Plauen closes all of its restaurants due to financial difficulties and insolvency, which puts a heavy burden on the catering industry.
Shock for Plauen: Gastrofabrik closes all restaurants – a bitter farewell!
The gastronomic landscape in Plauen and Zwickau is facing a drastic change, as freipresse.de reported. The “Gastrofabrik”, which operates several locations in the region, has now decided with a heavy heart to close all restaurants. Insolvency administrator Andreas Hiecke and restaurateur Manuel Bendig have delivered the difficult news to the team, and many employees are facing an uncertain future. Hiecke described the decision as bad but necessary.
The world of gastronomy in Germany is currently suffering heavily from the consequences of the pandemic and inflation. Particularly in rural areas such as Plauen, the decline in the number of guests does not just result in a simple loss of sales, but also drives many businesses into a financial downward spiral. According to blick.de, the Gastrofabrik is trying to maintain operations in seven of its locations such as Steyr and Uluru despite the bankruptcy. But how long remains to be seen. The traditional chicken grill has already announced its closure and will remain closed from April 12, 2025 due to economic difficulties.
A bitter end for traditional businesses
The chicken grill has played a special role in the city's history, as it was a popular meeting place for many regulars who were loyal to its delicious dishes, such as the famous broiler and chicken fricassee. Peter and Elfriede Schaarschmidt, former residents of Plauen, fondly remember their visits and the warm atmosphere that characterized this place.
However, the closures are tearing larger holes in the region's gastronomy and are not an isolated case. tagesschau.de reports that around 48,000 catering establishments across the country have closed since 2020. In 2023, 14,000 businesses went out of business, showing that the crisis remains a serious threat to many. The number of bankruptcies rose by 27 percent last year, which has become a real challenge for the catering industry.
The future of gastronomy is in danger
Small businesses in particular are affected, with 88 percent of insolvencies affecting companies with fewer than ten employees. This shows how badly the catering industry is suffering from the consequences of Corona and inflation. An increase in sales tax on food, which has been in effect since January 2024, has further exacerbated the situation. This shows that the catering industry is taking a high risk that could endanger more than 15,000 businesses in Germany in the coming years.
Despite the difficult circumstances, there remains hope that the businesses will survive, such as the Gastrofabrik in Plauen. Many in the region hope that new perspectives will emerge in the long term, even if the situation is anything but easy at the moment. But in the catering industry you often need a good hand to withstand the challenges. What will happen next for the once popular restaurants remains uncertain.