Coffee houses were the first to open on Wednesday morning. In the morning, mainly regular guests sat at the Tomaselli. For them there were small, sweet welcome gifts from boss Elisabeth Aigner: “All the regular guests who were with us on November 3rd, they were there again today. Like a class reunion. “
Ex-head of justice comes out as a coffee junkie
Former court president Walter Grafinger is also a regular guest: “For me it was a coffeehouse withdrawal. The symptoms have grown stronger and I am glad that the renovation is coming again. “Not only are regular guests to be seen again, also all employees,” says the boss happily: “They were all on short-time work, and today everyone is back there.”
In the Café Bazar on the other bank of the Salzach, the tables are already occupied at 7:30 a.m. as soon as they are unlocked. Regular guest Markus Rauchmann emphasizes that this visit to the cafe is now so exotic for him: “Like our trip to Bhutan a year ago.”
In the bazaar, the boss wants to look ahead
And Ober Wolfgang Puchner says that he can still proudly remember drinks or food at 98 percent if a regular customer previously ordered: “The same as always.”
All restaurants had closed for almost seven months. This has never happened before in this form. Boss Evelyn Brandstätter from Café Bazar says it was economically very difficult: “Although we received support from the state. But I tried not to think in numbers for a long time. That drives you crazy. We think positively and are now looking ahead. “
Foam-retarded start due to rainy weather
The restaurants then also opened at lunchtime. In the middle of the festival district is the triangle, a favorite spot for locals and festival stars. Employee Franziska Gensbichler says that for her and her colleagues it was “a bit like the first day of school. She was a little nervous. It wasn’t just the weather that thwarted the restaurant business on Wednesday. In the city of Salzburg It was quiet, some locals were out, Germans and Bavarians were the exception.
The gastronomy is now hoping for the coming months, says Gensbichler: “From the summer I expect that there will be more easing. And that by then a great many have already been vaccinated. “
Hoteliers with mixed feelings
The principle of hope dominates the hotel industry even more than in the catering industry. One is prepared, although not all businesses have already opened, as hotelier Thomas Imlauer describes: “This year will also be a tough year for the hotels. We expect 30 to 35 percent occupancy for the first few months. At the festival, we expect 50 to 60 percent. And we can’t predict anything in the fall. “
Recovered, vaccinated or tested – these are the requirements for guests in both hotels and restaurants. 750,000 tests are available across the state this week. An additional test road was set up in Salzburg’s old town. With all the joy of the opening steps.
The medical director of the country is “queasy”
Some doctors continue to warn – as has been the case for many weeks and months. State Medical Director Petra Juhasz from the State Government’s office warns again urgently: “Of course I have a queasy feeling. You saw in Vorarlberg how opening up certain areas had an effect. It is important that businesses comply with the regulations, but so do visitors and customers. Otherwise this risk will go wrong. “
The seven-day incidence in Salzburg was 45.5 nationwide on Wednesday – in the city of Salzburg even a little lower.
Culture awakens from artificial deep sleep
From now on it is possible to play again in Salzburg’s cultural sites. For months they had to do without a live audience. And many fans are already sick of live streams via the web. Vaccinated, tested or recovered – this also applies to cultural sites as an additionally necessary “entry ticket” – more on this in salzburg.ORF.at (19.5.2021)
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