After months of requests and attempts at talks, the city of Offenbach has issued the operators of the Wiener Hof restaurant in the Bieber district with a business ban with immediate effect. The public order office still lacks the documents, evidence and payments from the operator that are necessary for the restaurant to continue operating.
Head of Public Order Paul-Gerhard Weiß emphasizes: "Precisely because the operators of the Wiener Hof have been in contact with the city for many months to discuss a possible future for the business, the Trade Licensing Office relied for a very long time on the missing documents still being submitted. Recently, in personal discussions between the operating company, the public order office and the real estate department as the landlord of the property, it was once again emphasized that the city unfortunately cannot make an exception and that the operating company must fulfil its obligation. In addition, attempts were made to provide appropriate assistance. A final deadline also passed, so we have to conclude that unfortunately all patience and additional deadlines have led to no result. The public order office cannot tolerate the current situation any longer. We very much regret that it has now come to this. But we have to treat all traders equally. The necessary documents are not out of the question: they can and will be submitted by all other traders - whether for a kiosk, a pub, a snack bar or a Michelin-starred restaurant."
The decision of the public order office has no impact on the decision on the future of the Wiener Hof. "The cost calculations for the refurbishment to preserve the Wiener Hof have been completed. The necessary sum has been registered for the budget. If financially possible, a decision could be made in the 2026 budget to renovate the Wiener Hof and restore it to its former state with a hall. It is a popular and traditional cultural venue in Bieber that we would like to preserve - if the city can somehow manage it financially. To do this, we need a reliable partner for future cultural events," says Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke.
Background to the review under commercial law
The City of Offenbach is legally obliged to inspect businesses and check their traders for reliability. This means that every business must be registered - changes and, above all, a change of operator must also be reported to the Trade Licensing Office. Additional requirements apply to establishments serving alcohol, including a certificate of good conduct and proof of finances.
In the case of the Wiener Hof, there was a change of operator on April 15, 2024 according to a trade notification. The new owner of the operating company has still not submitted key documents for the business re-registration. In addition, outstanding payments are still outstanding. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, things can sometimes be forgotten. The public order office has therefore issued several reminders and warnings - also in view of the difficult situation caused by the closure of the event hall for structural reasons.
After several extensions of the deadline, the city of Offenbach now has to draw a conclusion and classifies the new operator as "not reliable". This assessment is reinforced by the fact that the old operator, but not the owner of the new operating company, has so far continued to appear before the city's offices and authorities. The city has therefore banned the operation with immediate effect on the basis of the Hessian Restaurant Act. The notice has already been sent to the operating company.