District of Gießen: Another lockdown would be the end for many restaurants

The restaurateurs in the Gießen district are skeptical whether the lockdown will really end on December 1st. An expert fears that many companies will no longer survive a third lockdown.

Gießen – For Ghirmay Habton, landlord of the Lich cultural restaurant »Savanne«, the job is a calling. He loves to talk to his guests and to offer artists a platform in his restaurant. However, November makes the otherwise cheerful innkeeper the worry lines on the forehead: He has to close his shop like all other restaurateurs. »We always obeyed the rules, the customers obeyed the rules. It’s sad for everyone. ”

Some would have ordered and picked up food to support the restaurant. Others only came by to eat briefly and then left again straight away. At curfew times, everyone understood that they could only book a table for a certain time, reports Licher. “We always found a solution.” A winter garden was to be built this week to have more space for guests. “I was lucky I was able to stop that.”

Restaurateurs in the district of Gießen: Not surprised by lockdown

A few kilometers away, in the “Landhaus Klosterwald”, one is not surprised by the federal government’s decision to implement the lockdown. Managing director Markus Müller had expected him due to the increasing number of infections.

After the summer of 2020, he actually had hope. An unusually large number of holiday guests would have come. “Some stayed ten days in the Gießen district – I didn’t know that before,” says Müller.

The »Landhaus« benefits from the fact that it is quite broadly positioned: the offer ranges from restaurants to hotels and conferences to family and wedding celebrations. “We have a responsibility for the region and our employees,” says Müller. Now comes the lockdown again. The compulsory break is used to renovate the hotel. In addition, meals are always available for pick-up on Sundays.

DEHOGA: Have functioning hygiene concepts in the Gießen district

Stefan Herzog, chairman of the district association Gießen / Gleiberger Land of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA), cannot understand the decision of the federal politicians: »Why is a successful, hygienic and comprehensible concept for fighting pandemics stopped during the› general ‹business operations in all its diversity and all its dangers are only ‘cosmetic’ restrictions placed on it? ”he asks.

Contact restrictions make sense in the current situation, says Herzog. However, the meetings would now only shift from public to private space. “Sending people into uncontrollable living areas is hugely unrealistic with regard to real contact restrictions.”

Landlord from Gießen fears that loneliness will destroy people

His restaurant was a place where people could have met under the applicable hygiene regulations, says Savanne landlord Habton. »People need an exchange with friends after work and stress. Many will be ruined by loneliness. ”He is now considering offering a pick-up service to keep in touch with his guests.

Many other restaurants also go this way. But this is not a permanent solution. “The entire catering industry is being hit very hard again. For many companies, this compulsory rest is threatening their very existence, especially since it cannot really be foreseen that the general pandemic situation will not worsen any further,” says Herzog.

The non-repayable aid announced by the federal government is a support. “However, more loans have to be paid back, and that when sales have fallen,” says Herzog.

Especially since the Christmas business is coming up: The DEHOGA chairman expects that it will decrease by two thirds compared to the previous year, “with largely the same fixed costs”.