Shock for Plauen: Gastrofabrik closes all restaurants - a bitter farewell!

Shock for Plauen: Gastrofabrik closes all restaurants - a bitter farewell!

Plauen, Deutschland - The gastronomic landscape in Plauen and Zwickau is faced with a drastic change, such as Freepresse.de. The "Gastrofabrik", which operates several localities in the region, has now decided to close all restaurants with a heavy heart. Insolvency administrator Andreas Hiecke and restaurateur Manuel Bendig have brought the difficult news to the team, and many employees face an uncertain future. Hiecke described the decision as bad but necessary.

The world of gastronomy in Germany is currently difficult to consequently support the consequences of pandemic and inflation. Especially in rural areas such as Plauen, the decline in the number of guests is not only a simple loss of sales, but also drives many companies into the financial downward spiral. According to Blick.de, the gastrofabrik, despite the bankruptcy, tries to maintain the operation in seven of its localities such as Steyr and Uluru. 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 companies

The chicken grill played a special role in the history of the city, since it was a popular meeting place for many regular guests who were loyal to his delicious dishes, such as the famous broiler and chicken fricassee. Peter and Elfriede Schaarschmidt, former Plauener, are happy to remember their visits and the warm atmosphere that shaped this place.

The closures, however, tear larger holes into the region's gastronomy and are not an isolated case. Tagesschau.de reports that around 48,000 restaurants have been closed since 2020. In 2023, 14,000 companies gave up, which shows that the crisis is still a serious threat to many. The number of bankruptcies rose by 27 percent last year, which has become a real challenge for gastronomy.

The future of gastronomy in danger

Small companies in particular are affected, with 88 percent of bankruptcies affecting companies with fewer than ten employees. This shows how strongly the gastronomy suffers from the consequences of corona and inflation. An increase in sales tax to food that has been in force since January 2024 has further tightened the situation. This shows that gastronomy takes a high risk that could endanger more than 15,000 companies in Germany in the coming years.

Hope for survival of the companies, as with the Gastrofabrik in Plauen, remains despite the serious circumstances. Many in the region hope that new perspectives will arise in the long term, even if the situation is currently anything but simple. But in the catering trade it often takes a good hand to withstand the challenges. How things will continue with the once popular restaurants remains uncertain.