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Cologne is in mourning: Cult Café Lichtenberg closes after 23 years for construction project!
The Café Lichtenberg in Cologne is closing after 23 years due to a construction project. Last day is October 24, 2025.
Cologne is in mourning: Cult Café Lichtenberg closes after 23 years for construction project!
The popular Café Lichtenberg in Cologne will close after 23 years. The last day of opening is October 24, 2025. The reason for the closure is extensive construction work related to a mega construction project on Neumarkt. How calf reported, the operators informed their guests about the upcoming changes in an emotional letter.
Demolition work on the building on Richmodstrasse is scheduled to begin at the beginning of November. The new construction project will cover an area of 14,000 square meters for retail, restaurants and offices. The original building, which dates back to the 1950s, was no longer economically viable t-online.de emphasized.
A cultural heritage
Café Lichtenberg, which opened in 2002, quickly developed into a central meeting point for Cologne residents and visitors. It was particularly known for its cozy atmosphere, readings, music evenings and art exhibitions. The team led by operator Ulrike Weingarten has persevered despite numerous crises, including the introduction of the euro, the financial crisis and the corona pandemic.
In a statement, the operators announced that their coffee specialties and cakes will continue to be available at other locations in Cologne. The locations include Café Bauturm, Ludwig im Museum and Rösterei Schanzenstraße. In addition, it is planned to open a new café on Offenbachplatz in summer 2026, so that a return to the original location is not completely ruled out.
Importance of gastronomy for inner cities
The closure of Café Lichtenberg shows the challenges that many catering establishments in Germany face. In this context, a study by IFH KÖLN has identified gastronomy as a decisive factor for the revitalization of German city centers. Around 60% of the restaurateurs surveyed rate the current situation as mediocre to very bad, while 71% see the shortage of skilled workers as the biggest challenge ifhkoeln.de reported.
High rents for attractive locations and difficulties in dealing with authorities are other topics that are repeatedly raised. These conditions make it difficult for many restaurateurs to survive in the highly competitive market. In order to improve the situation, 61% of those surveyed would like the legal framework and approval procedures to be simplified.
The operators of Café Lichtenberg are hoping for numerous visitors to say goodbye and a worthy conclusion to an important chapter in Cologne's gastronomic history.