Cologne has voted. As part of the solidarity campaign “MER STONN ZESAMME – DIE BESTEN 2021” sponsored by NetCologne, all Cologne citizens were able to support their businesses in the current situation at the end of last year and vote for their favorites in the hospitality, trade and craft sectors. The three winners have now been announced and were chosen on Monday evening in the Lanxess Arena Backstage Restaurant.
“We keep our distance, but we are not alone”
Timo von Lepel, the managing director of NetCologne, issued this motto with the award ceremony and panel discussion. Especially in difficult times, such as those currently prevailing, it is particularly important to continue the tradition that began in 2011 and to carry out the honors. The three award-winning companies are representative of so many others who were able to assert themselves despite the sometimes very tough restrictions. You accepted the challenge, developed your own concepts and retained your belief in better times.
Keep fighting – despite Corona
“I actually wanted to cry, but then I changed my mind,” said Simon Stahl with a good dose of gallows humor. Together with his business partner René Deichmann, he has only been running the long-established “Em Ringströßje” inn in Alt-Müngersdorf for over a year. The two restaurateurs offer regional and seasonal cuisine in the restaurant, which has been in existence since 1964. Under the motto “Lockdown again? Then delicious!” they countered the renewed closure with a special delivery and collection card. The service is well received. Simon Stahl and René Deichmann are the winners in the hospitality category.
The other award-winning companies both come from Rodenkirchen. Elke and Frank Wocke fulfilled a dream 15 years ago and opened the “Strandgut Concept Store”. Another shop was added later in Lindenthal. “Our customers are our guests,” says the couple, who also sell many of their goods online for the fashion-conscious and decoration fans. Over the course of a year, her business “Strandgut”, which has now won the trade category, is transformed from a blooming spring meadow to a summer landscape by the sea to a winter wonderland with a large Christmas exhibition. Now their shops are also closed. “We keep fighting, even if it’s damn hard. Father state shouldn’t forget us, because what would our cities be without trade, gastronomy and handicrafts,” said Elke Wocke in her acceptance speech.
Bettina and Jürgen Gillessen, whose “Butcher’s Shop Gillessen” took 1st place in the craft category, were able to keep their family business open. Although they also had to adapt and react to the changed framework conditions, the lockdown did not hit them as hard as the other two award-winning companies.
“We have to keep society’s digital lifelines open”
In addition to the awards for the “best”, there was also an exciting panel discussion moderated by Frauke Ludowig. While the NRW Minister of Economic Affairs Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart did not spare himself praise for the crisis management of the state government, Prof. Dr. Michael Hüther much more specifically. “Many companies are threatened with existential consequences as a result of the non-flow of aid. Only 1.5 billion euros or 4 percent of the promised aid has flowed for November,” criticized the director of the Institute for German Economy.
“It is high time to administer the processes very quickly. It is about livelihoods because three months have passed without the support reaching the company. In addition, a negative tax should be considered in the event of losses,” says Michael Huther. Stefan Lochs, the boss of the Lanxess Arena, spoke of such “incredibly high losses”, who hoped that politicians would soon be given more personal responsibility instead of having to accept bans. Timo von Lepel, the managing director of NetCologne, said in conclusion that one has to look ahead even in times of crisis. That is why NetCologne has expanded its offerings for high-speed bandwidth, expanded its private customer service and invested in new networks. “We have to keep society’s digital lifelines open,” he said.
(by Tobias Gonscherowski; Photos: 1 & 3 Ralf Jürgens, Photo 2: Tobias Gonscherowski).
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