Brandenburg gastronomy legend: Zum Stahlwerker closes after 41 years

Brandenburg gastronomy legend: Zum Stahlwerker closes after 41 years

After over four decades, the couple of restaurateurs Karin and Bernd Oriwol conclude an important chapter in their history in Brandenburg an der Havel. On July 14, 2025, Bernd Oriwol announced that they are selling their traditional restaurant “Zum Stahlwerker”, which they have been running since 1984. The restaurant not only established itself as a popular dining area, but also as an important part of the city's catering culture.

The restaurant "Zum Stahlwerker", located at Magdeburger Landstraße 7, has a size of 3234 square meters and extends over a total area of 940 square meters. This also includes a spacious apartment on the upper floor with 250 square meters. The property, which has been built in the past as a Flicksches Casino and now bears the status of an industrial monument, is offered by real estate agent Torsten Lubinsky for 900,000 euros. The most prominent part of the offer are the 33 parking spaces and the three access roads that promise a high level of comfort for future operators. According to Maz-online.de The Oriwol couple is ready to withdraw from the gastronomy and to clear the object.

a colorful story

The history of the "Stahlwerker" is closely interwoven with the personal story of Bernd Oriwol, who is 81 years old and began his career as a restaurateur in the beer pub "The Sports Freund". At that time he received support from Hans-Joachim Lauck, an influential politician in the GDR. The restaurant “Zum Stahlwerker”, which offered 430 places, had a multifaceted development: after the turn, it turned to an Italian restaurant and attracted numerous prominent guests - from politicians to entertainers.

In the gastronomic landscape of Brandenburg, however, we saw many changes. From the Conditorei Otto Graf to the restaurant "Havel-Terrasse", the changeability of the industry is reflected, which is interwoven with the history of the city. The Conditerei stayed as a popular café for many years, while the "Havel-Terrasse" is known today as a Fontane-Club, as on Brandenburger-in.de is.

The monuments of the gastronomy

The building of the "steelworks" not only has a historical meaning, but also the status of a monument. In Brandenburg an der Havel there is an impressive collection of building and art monuments, which are listed in the Bldam datatbank . This monument preservation is crucial to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the city.

The decision of the Oriwols to withdraw from the catering trade not only marks a personal fresh start, but also leaves a gap in the culinary landscape of Brandenburg. The search for a successor to the inn and the preservation of its history will be of great importance.