Shattered windows, overturned bar stools, broken picture frames. A charred raven hangs upside down over the counter. The artificial bird was once a gift when Thomas “Ecki” Eckhardt thought about opening a pub.
That was over 20 years ago. On November 1st, the »Black Raven« would have celebrated its 24th birthday with many guests if Corona hadn’t got in the way. In the past two decades, there have been break-ins from time to time. Then the windows were repaired and it was all good again. But the latest incident took on a completely different quality, says “Ecki”. His gaze falls sadly over the devastated pub. These are the moments when the 56-year-old realizes again what happened that night. The first shock of the incident has given way to reality.
It happened on November 20th. In the early morning strangers used force to gain entry to the pub on Einsteinstrasse, stole various things and set a fire. The pungent smell of soot and smoke still lingers in the air. Open windows and doors don’t help either.
Hoyerswerda residents show great willingness to help
The responsible insurance company recorded the damage on Monday. An appraiser will come at the end of this week. Then the exact amount of damage is also determined, which will probably be in the multi-digit range. According to Thomas Eckhardt, the insurance company will cover the damage. Of course, the ideal value of many destroyed things cannot be replaced.
And yet the 56-year-old doesn’t give up. The landlord would like to do a lot of his own work in order to be able to reopen his pub as soon as possible. But he will certainly not have to undertake his project alone. Because the wave of helpfulness is great. As soon as word of the incident got around, Manja Klimt opened a fundraising campaign. Within a very short time, numerous people not only expressed their sympathy, but also provided financial support and offered their active help for a fresh start. At the same time, other fundraising campaigns, for example by Tommy Schindler and the band »IMMERHIN«, were launched. Born in Hoyerswerda and singer Frank Proft announced that he would like to give a concert to mark the opening of the newly renovated pub, 100 percent of which will go to the Irish pub “Black Raven”, reports Manja Klimt.
Pub is »a place of wellbeing«
The initiator would also like to talk to the Sparkasse in the near future in order to open a donation account. The committed Hoyerswerda resident, like many other guests, connects numerous experiences and stories that have been written in the »Black Raven«. The pub and its veteran »Ecki« are part of Hoyerswerda and the city can no longer be imagined without it. Thomas Klose from Hoyerswerda, who works professionally in Switzerland, describes his impressions as follows: “For me, the ‘Black Raven’ is a place to stop off, relax and arrive.”
At the moment, the total donation from the two above-mentioned campaigns amounts to more than 4,000 euros (as of November 25th, 6 a.m.). “I am positively shocked at how many people help,” says “Ecki” with a grateful smile and an unmistakable atmosphere of optimism on his face that reveals: everything is about to start again!
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