The end of an era: Brockenwirt Steinhoff is withdrawing from the catering industry

The end of an era: Brockenwirt Steinhoff is withdrawing from the catering industry

A real turning point in the history of the Brockenwirt: Daniel Steinhoff has announced his retirement from the catering industry, which will take place at the end of this year. The innkeeper, whose family business has been rooted in the Brocken for 35 years, describes this step as “long overdue”, especially in view of the ongoing staff shortage. “Of 28 employees, only 11 are still active,” reports MDR about the difficult situation in the Brockenhotel and in the tourist hall. Steinhoff and his son Lucas currently work up to 15 hours a day, which increases the strain enormously.

It's no secret that the catering industry has been struggling with serious problems since the Corona pandemic. Like the industry as a whole, Steinhoff is faced with a shortage of cooks, waiters and receptionists. These conditions have meant that he and his son have to cope with the strenuous shifts alone, which is not feasible in the long term. Steinhoff reflects on the meaning of his work and the need to think about himself and his family. “I can't work seven days a week,” he explains, while at the same time emphasizing that his health is fine so far.

Emotional decision for Steinhoff

For him, Steinhoff's withdrawal was an emotional decision that preoccupied him for weeks. “I want to spend more time with my family, especially as my mother gets older,” he points out. The Steinhoffs opened the first restaurant after the Brocken was released on February 1, 1990 and have been a fixture in the region's restaurant industry ever since. Hans Steinhoff, Daniel's father, made the “Brockenwirt” an institution. After Hans' death in 2016, Daniel took over responsibility for the business, but the challenges of the last few years could not be ignored, as Hogapage reports.

After his retirement, Steinhoff will only look after the Brocken station of the Harz narrow-gauge railways in the future. District Administrator Thomas Balcerowski describes the withdrawal as sad news and is already looking for a new operator for the Brockenhotel. Initial viewings for potential successors were arranged. At the same time, the Harz district is planning investments, including a children's playground and a stage for music events, in order to improve the tourist offer.

The restructuring in the hospitality industry

The catering industry is not only facing enormous challenges on the Brocken. Many innkeepers across Germany are struggling with a lack of staff, as ZDF shows. The industry suffers from high costs, increased prices and high price sensitivity among guests. The VAT increase from 7 percent to 19 percent after the pandemic put additional strain on business.

In a market that often oscillates between falling sales and increased costs, it remains to be seen how the Harz district and possible successors will redesign the Brockenwirt. The last word has not yet been spoken here, and the hope for a positive turnaround in the hospitality industry remains.