Boathouse in Sigmaringen closes: renovation for 1.05 million euros begins!

Boathouse in Sigmaringen closes: renovation for 1.05 million euros begins!

In the heart of Sigmaringen, time is running out for the popular boathouse. The Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations in 2023 have to be canceled there due to extensive renovation work. Operator Soufyen Charni has announced that the eatery will be closing for at least four months to remodel a kitchen that has been perceived as too small since it opened in 2013. The renovation costs amount to around 1.05 million euros, an amount that should not be underestimated, but which is necessary to bring the boathouse up to date.

The main goal of the remodel is to expand the kitchen by a third. This is achieved by an extension measuring five by ten meters, which will also provide storage and cold rooms. The storage rooms are currently housed in an adjacent building, which causes additional personnel costs that the new solution aims to avoid. The architect Juliane Hau emphasizes that the extension will be designed in the same architectural language as the existing building in order to maintain the harmonious look. A modern ventilation system will also be installed to provide the necessary fresh air in the kitchen. Access to the roof terrace will also be optimized by relocating the stairs - in future access will be from the side of the Gorheimer Weiher.

Personnel impacts and future prospects

The closure also has an impact on staff: around 30 employees will be put on short-time work, while eleven trainees will continue to be employed in other companies. However, Charni is optimistic and plans to increasingly offer catering services in the neighboring Karls Hotel during the renovation phase. There will be no day off at the brewery during this transition period in order to continue to serve guests.

Soufyen Charni took over the boathouse in 2017 and has a permanent lease with the city, which means financial stability even in difficult times. Despite challenging sales last year, the operator is satisfied with the general business development: The lease is dependent on sales, which benefits both Charni and the city.

A further extension is being planned to create suitable changing rooms and lounges for staff. However, whether this can be implemented depends on financial viability and grant approvals. The boathouse is scheduled to reopen in March 2026, so that guests will soon be able to enjoy the atmosphere of the popular restaurant again.

For the city of Sigmaringen, this conversion not only means an increase in the value of the boathouse, but also strategic planning for the future of gastronomy in the region. Charni stays in touch with the times and plans to return with a powerful concept that meets the new requirements. The coming months will show how the conversion actually progresses and whether the ongoing projects actually produce the hoped-for results.

For anyone who wants to keep busy with stories and good reading in the meantime, it might be worth taking a look at SenLinYu's debut novel “Alchemized”. This novel deals with themes such as immortality and the pursuit of transcendence, feelings and profound decisions in a dark narrative world that also demands an intensive examination of human nature. A good book to distract you during the renovation phase!

The closure of the boathouse is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter that is still full of surprises.