Last courses: Restaurant Burgsee in Gadebusch is closing forever!

Last courses: Restaurant Burgsee in Gadebusch is closing forever!

Another sad farewell in the gastronomy scene: The popular Station Burgsee restaurant in Gadebusch will be closed forever at the end of 2025. Owner Holger Hempel cites rising food and energy costs as the main reasons for this step. The desired price adjustments could not prevent fewer and fewer guests from finding their way to his restaurant. “There is no way around it,” said Hempel, who only made the difficult decision after careful consideration.

Hempel manages a total of four companies, but despite his commitment, he now has to part with seven qualified employees who are looking for new jobs. The restaurant, which was taken over by Hempel in 2009 and opened in 2010 after a three-year renovation, was not only a place for home-style cooking, but also popular for culinary city tours and special events. Here guests could spend the night in a lounge sleeping car and a luxury carriage on the Orient Express.

Background to the closure

The closure of Station Burgsee joins the grim list of catering establishments that have folded in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic and soaring inflation. In 2023 alone, around 14,000 restaurants in Germany had to close. The worst effects of the crisis have hit restaurants, especially small businesses, hard. The insolvency rate in the industry rose by 27 percent in 2023, with companies with fewer than ten employees being particularly affected, as Merkur reports.

Rising food prices, coupled with the return of the higher VAT rate of 19 percent on food, are significantly increasing the pressure on catering businesses. These challenges mean that many restaurants are no longer profitable, making closures a sad reality. Deutschlandfunk also points out that many restaurateurs in cities and rural regions are equally affected.

A serious loss for the region

The Burgsee station was not only known for its offerings, but also a valued part of the Gadebusch community. Weddings took place in collaboration with the city's registry office, and the restaurant served as a cultural meeting place. “I put a lot of heart and soul into this project and felt connected to the city,” says Hempel, emotional about the loss.

The restaurant will remain open until December 26th and is still accepting registrations for parties. Guests should also redeem their vouchers by closing time. Hempel is planning to reuse the station building and is currently negotiating with potential new tenants.

The catering industry in Germany continues to struggle against the cost of living and the expectations of its guests. While the industry hopes to overcome the challenges with new concepts and ideas, it remains to be seen when the next upturn will come. But one thing is clear: the closure of Station Burgsee is a strong signal for the beleaguered domestic catering industry and leaves many with a bad aftertaste.