Traditional Lohdeel on Föhr closed again after bankruptcy!

Traditional Lohdeel on Föhr closed again after bankruptcy!

In a surprising turn, the traditional “Lohdeel” in Nieblum on Föhr closes its doors again. The tenant Martin Möhring has filed for bankruptcy, which the restaurant only hits shortly after its restart in July 2024. The closure is particularly unfavorable because it took place shortly before the high season on the North Sea in mid -June. At the entrance door, a note with the message is "closed until further notice", and the telephone line remains silent, while the reservations are canceled. Finally, only two employees and a trainee were active in the restaurant, and they now have to try new jobs.

The mood is tense and disappointed. Holle Paulsen, the owner of the historic building, expresses her disappointment with the course of things. Until the end, she had tried to have talks to avert bankruptcy. Paulsen managed the "Lohdeel" with her partner for over ten years before she took over in 2006. She is now planning to continue the restaurant in another personnel constellation, because the hope of reviving the restaurant remains.

a tragic story of change

Since the takeover, the "Lohdeel" has experienced several changes in tenants, which made the company unstable. Even if the restaurant was well attended, according to regular guests and offered a pleasant atmosphere, the financial success failed. The mix of North German and French cuisine did not seem to be fruitful, and the reasons for the closure are unclear.

Martin Möhring, which originally comes from Saarbrücken, was not only the tenant, but also the cook. The effort used in the renovation of the restaurant in 2024 did not seem to be paid out. The closure surprises many, especially in the face of the good inspection, which was recorded even in winter.

crisis effects on gastronomy

Unfortunately, the fate of the "Lohdeel" is not alone. The catering industry has suffered greatly from the effects of inflation and increasing costs in recent years. According to [Creditreform] (https://www.creditreform.de/aktuelles-wissen/Pressem reports-fachbeitrage/news-details/show/Krisengerchenungen-in-der-gastronomie- 48000-closings, over 48,000 closings have been recorded between 2022 and 2023 by 27% are. Young restaurants in particular with a maximum operating time of five years are at risk and make up almost half of all bankruptcy cases.

in Schleswig-Holstein, where Föhr is located, there was an increase in bankruptcies by 65%, which further tightens the already difficult situation in the hospitality industry. The increase in sales tax for dishes at the beginning of the year has additionally burdened the situation and contributes to the fact that numerous companies, such as the "Lohdeel", are faced with.

Despite the challenging circumstances, there is hope that a new operator will revive the "Lohdeel" in the near future. Holle Paulsen has undertaken to continue the restaurant, even if it is still unclear in which personnel constellation this will happen.