Restaurants are dying in Dahlewitz: shortages and rising costs are increasing!

Restaurants are dying in Dahlewitz: shortages and rising costs are increasing!

The air is burning in the catering industry: The closure of several restaurants in the old district of Zossen, including the high-end restaurant “Mutterwelt” in Dahlewitz and the Keglerheim Dabendorf, has caused alarm. Loud maz-online.de This is just the tip of the iceberg with regard to the so-called restaurant death. Daniel Reuner, President of the Brandenburg Dehoga Association, sees the current developments as a first step after the difficult Corona years. These were particularly hard for the catering industry, as many employees left the industry and looked for new jobs with better conditions.

Inflation is a major contributor to the misery. Several innkeepers in Brandenburg and beyond are reporting sharp increases in wages and additional costs, which have risen by a fifth, as well as increased energy and food prices. The repayment of Corona loans also represents a significant burden for many companies. It is all the more frustrating that the reduction in VAT from 19% to 7%, which will not come into force until January 1, 2026, does not bring any relief to the current situation.

Skilled labor shortage and customer loss

The effects of the staff shortage cannot be overlooked: restaurants are fighting for every reservation. As in ZDF reports, many other companies are also stepping up their search for skilled workers, often even abroad. This is a situation that is becoming increasingly noticeable throughout the industry. Many hotels have limited their à la carte offerings due to a lack of staff. An innkeeper from Frankfurt reports that he had to take care of the service himself in order to entertain the numerous guests. A creative approach, but this cannot be the long-term solution.

In addition, guests' consumption habits have changed. They eat out less often and think carefully about where they spend their money. As a result, sales in the hospitality industry are declining massively. A restaurant in Berlin-Kaulsdorf recorded a 20% decline in sales compared to the previous year. The uncertainties are further compounded by the future of the VAT rate, as the government has decided to increase it from 7% to 19%.

Politics is responsible

The pressure on catering businesses is growing as bureaucracy is not decreasing. By July 31st, all businesses requiring cash records must introduce new systems, further frustrating employers. Dehoga has therefore already turned to politicians with suggestions to demand a reduction in bureaucracy, which is urgently needed in the industry. As the rbb24 documented in detail, many companies in Germany are fighting for their existence and are at acute risk.

A survey shows that around 12,000 catering establishments in Germany are barely making ends meet. Given this dramatic situation, the question arises: Is there still hope for the gastronomy industry in the region? The industry needs not only economic but also political support in order to overcome the multitude of challenges and to be able to implement entrepreneurial ideas again.