Berlin: Former branch of the Berlin coffee roaster on Stuttgarter Platz is referred to as millions of grave

Berlin: Former branch of the Berlin coffee roaster on Stuttgarter Platz is referred to as millions of grave

The Berlin coffee roaster closed its former branch on Stuttgart Square in Charlottenburg. Andreas Giest, the company's CEO, describes the café as a "millions of grave". Already three years after the opening, the branch had to close due to financial difficulties. The coffee mercury indicates that the lack of customer offers was not the problem. Rather, the entire company got into financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Investment Bank Berlin (IBB) rejected any financial corona aid from the federal and country, which ultimately led to the task of the unprofitable location on Stuttgarter Platz.

giest shows understanding of the decision of the banks, but regrets the time of closure, since the branch of the branch in summer 2022 was “shortly due to the profitability limit”. Within a further year it would have been likely that the location would have become profitable. The monthly operating costs amounted to 50,000 euros alone, plus wages and other expenses.

The corona crisis proved to be a big problem for Giest and his company. All branches had to be closed during the Lockdowns and a reduced number of seats was also required afterwards. If the Café on Stuttgarter Platz had been an independent company, it could have received state Corona aids because a decline in sales of 30 percent would have been fulfilled. However, since the Berlin coffee roaster is a group of companies, sales did not fall by 30 percent, which is why IBB rejected the application for aid. However, part of the losses in gastronomy could be compensated for by increased deliveries to supermarket chains and more sales in their own online shop.

Giest later tried to funds from the hardship fund. However, the IBB also rejected the corresponding application of the Berlin coffee roaster. Giest believes that this was not necessarily due to the bank itself, but that the state of Berlin wanted to save the 50 percent part that it should have contributed to the increase in federal funds in the hardship fund. Giest has now sued the IBB and claimed total damage of four million euros. The court proceedings are scheduled to begin in November.

giest emphasizes that his problem is not an isolated case. Other Berlin companies also failed with applications for hardship help. The Berlin coffee roaster was founded in 1999 by Andreas Giest and his father. In addition to the parent company in Wilmersdorf, the company operates a branch in Mitte and several franchise companies. There has been a production facility in Moabit since 2017. The family company employs a total of almost 150 people. According to Giest, the company is in the upswing again after the pandemic.

The future of the empty café on Stuttgart Platz remains uncertain. The building belongs to a Berlin real estate company that is currently negotiating with various potential tenants.