Traditional gastronomy on Rügen: New life in The Räucherei”!

Traditional gastronomy on Rügen: New life in The Räucherei”!

At a time when the catering industry in Germany is facing enormous challenges, there is also good news from the Rügen region. Steven Weiß, 35 years old and from Berlin, took over the restaurant “Die Räucherei” in Göhren, which was run by his grandparents Ilona and Andreas Ebert in the third generation. This traditional restaurant, which has been offering guests a culinary home for 25 years, remains in the family. The move comes after his grandparents are no longer able to continue the business due to health problems. Steven Weiß, who married waitress Juliane in 2015, will bring a breath of fresh air to the restaurant in the coming weeks and months while his wife takes care of the administrative tasks.

But alongside this positive news, there are also worrying developments on the economic side. The Hammer furnishings chain and the Schlau craft supply chain have filed for bankruptcy on their own initiative. According to experts, this form of bankruptcy offers hope that companies may be able to continue to exist. Business operations are currently continuing at Hammer's 12 locations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Schlau-Markt in Schwerin.

Increasing number of insolvencies in the catering industry

The catering industry is still fighting against the consequences of the crises of recent years. According to an analysis by Creditreform, the situation has noticeably worsened. Adjusted for prices, sales are still below the 2019 level, and between 2022 and 2023 the number of bankruptcies in the industry rose by 27 percent, well above the overall economic average. The “caterers and food service providers” sector is particularly affected, with an increase of 67 percent based on bankruptcies. The catering industry is particularly suffering from increased costs and inflation and a continuing trend of insolvencies is expected.

The effects are not only noticeable in Rügen. Regional differences show significant discrepancies in the susceptibility to insolvency. In Schleswig-Holstein, bankruptcies rose by 65 percent, while Saxony and Baden-Württemberg followed with increases of 53 percent and 45 percent, respectively. These developments make it clear that the catering industry as a whole is under high pressure.

Traffic chaos and parking problems at the Störtebeker Festival

Another topic that is currently occupying the region is the Störtebeker Festival in Ralswiek. After the premiere there was traffic chaos, especially for the coaches, which were affected due to new paid regulations for the bus parking at the port. While the festival and the community blame each other, there is still no solution in sight.

The other infrastructure will also be put to the test. The ferry bridge in Stralsund is being dismantled and renovated on the island of Rügen. This measure is urgently needed because the bridge is in serious need of renovation. Completion of the work is scheduled for November 2025.

At a time when technological innovations are taking hold, the Welz law firm in Stralsund has installed an AI call taker called “Marie”. This technology is intended to help facilitate work processes in the law firm without reducing staff. Given the skills shortage, this could provide valuable support for the industry.

In summary, while there is fresh optimism in Rügen with the takeover of the restaurant by Steven Weiß, the catering industry urgently needs to find new ways to assert itself on the market due to bankruptcies and other crises.