In September the guests were also served in the Art Nouveau brasserie “Excelsior” in Nancy. Roger Sengel says: “I am sure that the restaurants will be full again one day. But when, nobody knows. ”Photos: Button
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From Volker Knopf
Strasbourg.Alsace is also a popular travel and excursion destination for people from the metropolitan region. The lockdown is much tougher in France than in Germany. The gastronomy in Alsace in particular is suffering from the measures to combat the corona pandemic. As in Germany, restaurants, bars and bistros are closed in November. Roger Sengel is President of the Gastro-Verbands “Hoteliers, Restaurateurs and Beverage Dealers in Bas-Rhin”, the counterpart to the German Hotel and Restaurant Association Dehoga. In an interview with the RNZ, the 69-year-old reported on the problems of hotel and restaurant operators from Wissembourg to the greater Strasbourg area.
Roger Sengel. Photo: zgMr. Sengel, how do you describe the current situation for the catering industry in Alsace?
There is only one word for it: catastrophic. We represent around 1200 companies in the Bas-Rhin department. Business has broken down for everyone. Maybe twenty percent do a little pick-up service. But that doesn’t even cover the running costs.
What do you fear?
We will experience a wave of bankruptcies that will likely begin in the spring of next year. It will start in March. Then quite a few will go on their knees, I suspect.
Is there no support from the French state?
In the first phase there were loans from the state. But how are you supposed to pay them back if you have next to no income? Now in November there are 10,000 euros for all businesses that had to close and that you don’t have to repay. But I doubt whether that will ultimately help.
How was business in the summer?
Companies that had a terrace could work relatively well and take advantage of the good weather. Some restaurants were able to generate around 60 to 70 percent of their usual income. But those who didn’t have a terrace lost. October wasn’t that good anymore. In addition, many trade fairs in Strasbourg were canceled, there were only a few tourists in the city in summer.
And now the Christmas market has also been canceled.
As a matter of fact. Every year around 2.5 million tourists visit Strasbourg during Advent. Strasbourg has the oldest Christmas market in France. Since 1570, the market was only canceled during World War II. The current cancellation hits the hotel and restaurant operators with full force. Not to forget the artisans and market feeders.
The Dehoga criticizes the closure of the restaurants that have not shown themselves to be super spreaders. How does your association see it?
Exactly like that. You see the full buses and trams and rub your eyes. We, on the other hand, focus on hygiene concepts, disinfectants and lower occupancy in the restaurants. This is not taken into account. But we have to come to terms with the situation. Of course, we also support the fight against the coronavirus. We all hope for the vaccine. But we don’t know how long the pandemic will keep us under control.
France and Alsace in particular represent a distinctive gastronomic culture. You take a lot of time to eat, it’s an important ritual. Is something going to be lost?
Our habits, our gastronomic culture will not be lost anytime soon. But it’s a tough turning point. I am sure that one day the restaurants will be full again. But when, nobody knows.
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