An iconic Berlin brasserie is closing its doors, much to the dismay of its loyal customers: the main problem is the high cost of staff and energy.
The news
In Berlin, the curtain falls on a French restaurant institution in Germany. After 26 years in business, the renowned “Brasserie Gendarmenmarkt” will close its doors for good at the end of summer 2025. It is a bitter farewell for the owners, André Nissen and Rüdiger Gawlitta, who have run the restaurant since 1999, and reflects the growing difficulties facing the sector. The reasons for the closure are many and complex. The managers have emphasized that the entire sector is facing an unprecedented crisis caused by the skyrocketing costs of energy, raw materials, and staffing. Added to this is a chronic shortage of skilled labor and increasingly cumbersome bureaucracy that hinders the day-to-day management of many businesses.
A decisive factor, which has become particularly apparent since the pandemic, is the growing phenomenon of working from home (smart working). This change in working habits has drastically reduced the influx of visitors and customers, particularly affecting the lucrative lunch business that was once a certainty. The Brasserie has also faced specific obstacles related to its location: for years, ongoing construction work at Gendarmenmarkt has made access to the restaurant increasingly difficult. In addition, the owners expressed their regret at the failure to reintroduce the reduced VAT rate of 7%, a measure that could have provided significant relief. Negotiations to renegotiate the terms of the lease were also unsuccessful.
With its closure, Berlin loses an important part of its culinary landscape, a place that for over a quarter of a century has been synonymous with French haute cuisine and a classic brasserie atmosphere. In a statement, the owners thanked their team and loyal customers for their support over the years.
