Sun, pier, and beer garden - we're the rain-soaked summer misfits
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Berlin's summer businesses are facing a challenging season due to the unrelenting rain in July, as reported by several operators. Stefan Reinhardt, who runs the beach resort Weißensee and a restaurant at Monbijouplatz in Mitte, is among those feeling the impact.
Reinhardt shared that despite the lack of visitors, fixed costs continue to run for his beach resort, leaving him in a precarious financial situation. Similarly, Nikolaos Mavrogiannis, who operates a restaurant at the resort, expressed a gloomy mood due to the empty seats and lack of sunshine.
Mavrogiannis mentioned that July is one of their most important months, and with sunshine, they would have made 35% more. Instead, they are experiencing a 7% decrease. The same sentiment is echoed by Georg Neu, the lessee of Strandbad Luers, who is experiencing a catastrophic first summer, with only 40 people coming a day, under normal circumstances.
Neu has hired staff and bought goods, but income is significantly lower than expected due to the poor weather. Private customers at Captain Re's boat rental are also noticeably cautious with their money, affecting revenue. The deficit for Captain Re's business keeps growing due to fixed costs that are paid year-round.
The Hotel and Restaurant Association Berlin (DEHOGA Berlin) stated that the rainy summer is negatively impacting the turnover of businesses, particularly those in outdoor areas. The beer garden of the Greek restaurant Orankesee-Terrassen in Alt-Hohenschoenhausen is experiencing a 20% decrease in turnover in July compared to the previous year.
Despite the struggles, some businesses are managing to stay afloat. The Orankesee-Terrassen restaurant itself is stable due to social media marketing, events, and a covered restaurant terrace. However, the beer garden, offering 400 seats, is largely unused due to the rain.
If Reinhardt does not make up the deficit in the next five weeks, he could have his contract terminated as the operator of the beach resort Weißensee. The lack of sunshine and high costs are causing double worries for Berlin's summer businesses, with four businesses in the city struggling due to the rainy July, with consequences threatening their existence.
While specific economic or business reports from July 2022 are not readily available, it is reasonable to infer that unseasonably wet conditions likely depressed revenue for outdoor-focused businesses in Berlin during that month, consistent with common outcomes for such weather disruptions.
Berlin's outdoor-living establishments, including restaurants and beach resorts, are grappling with financial hardship due to the prolonged rain in July. Home-and-garden businesses Facing reduced food-and-drink consumption, some operators are looking at a potential shift towards indoor seating and events to aid their lifestyle-focused operations. The weather, unusually wet in July, has significantly impacted revenue streams for businesses that rely heavily on outdoor living, prompting concerns about their long-term survival.
