Schoenau upon Kings sea – For 38 years, Pit Kurz has been running the only disco in Berchtesgaden with cult status – the Kaserbar at Königssee. On Friday, after a year and a half, it was allowed to reopen, despite all the rumors about a possible business closure. “People are really excited to finally go away again,” says the 69-year-old. In retrospect, the time to renounce was a tough one. Therefore, it is now important to really start again.
“We were dead for a year and a half,” says Pit Kurz. Colloquially, one would say: The disse was tight. When the pandemic began, the DJ was gone, the music was off, the drinks went bad. And Pit Kurz and his team were immediately unemployed. Without knowing how things will continue, whether things will continue and – if you are already thinking positively – when the beer will finally be allowed to flow again. “I didn’t think it would take that long,” says Pit Kurz. The past 18 months have therefore been a “brutally tough time”. For him, the boss, and for his team, which, as he says, always supported him.
The Kaserbar has been around for 53 years. For almost four decades, Pit Kurz has been the boss, the one behind the counter and taking orders. Who can read in the face of his loyal guests which wish is being expressed. In good times, the Kaserbar was so full of people that you could hardly turn around.
Nobody has seen the disco from the inside since the beginning of 2020. Pit Kurz was frustrated by the fact – he had to continue to pay the rent. He applied for economic aid. “That pretty much got us over the mountain,” he says. A year and a half is a hell of a long time for someone who likes his job to be in the Kaserbar two to three times a week.
But Pit Kurz did not remain inactive. At some point he had to dispose of a large part of the drinks in the warehouse. All the “Red Bull” cans for the Vodka Bull: expired: “We threw away hundreds,” he says. They have repainted the Kaserbar, “we have remodeled a lot”, paper towels instead of dryers, and disinfectant dispensers for disinfectants have been added. Requirements to continue. There are now two bouncers instead of one. More controls than before. The 3 G plus rule applies with immediate effect. Vaccinated, recovered or tested, but only by PCR. “We will strictly monitor,” announces the 69-year-old. Anyone who is just quick-tested will not get in. “The Pope can come in person.” Problems in the disco: Pit Kurz cannot afford that. Clear words: “Then the shit would be steaming.”
The long-time disco owner knows that young people’s going out behavior is different than it used to be. “People stay at home during the week.” So Pit Kurz will only be open on weekends, Friday and Saturday. The Thursday from before? Is deleted.
Pit Kurz relies on the tried and tested, on a DJ and finally a party atmosphere again. He now wants to start all over again. Music on, tap open: he and his team have waited far too long for this. Kilian Pfeiffer
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