Café Galerie in Trossingen: 30 years of celebration despite the gastronomy crisis!

Café Galerie in Trossingen: 30 years of celebration despite the gastronomy crisis!

There is a very special occasion to celebrate in Trossingen: The “Café Galerie”, which is now known as “Galerie – Tapas & Vino”, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Markus Santo, who has been an innkeeper for 30 years, remembers the beginnings of the café, which opened in 1995. Santo originally wanted to start a discotheque with a friend, but found an attractive building for rent that was quickly converted into a popular restaurant. Today, Santo is celebrating this special milestone with a “birthday week” full of events from November 5th to 8th, including a bingo evening, an anniversary concert with Annika Neipp and a vintage car revival party with DJ Samos.

However, the joy of the anniversary is overshadowed by the challenges of the catering industry. The industry has suffered greatly in recent years. Loud daily news One in ten companies in the catering industry will have gone out of business in 2023, and around 48,000 companies have ceased operations since 2020. The rising costs of personnel, energy and food are affecting restaurateurs. Santo himself complains about the political framework, especially the increased VAT rates for food, which have been raised to 19 percent since January 2024.

An industry overview

The closures in the catering industry are alarming, the statistics dance before the eyes of the industry. In 2023, a good 14,000 restaurants were closed, with more than 88 percent of these insolvencies affecting small businesses. The 27 percent increase in bankruptcies last year clearly shows how loud the alarm is ringing. Patrik-Ludwig Hantzsch from Creditreform warns of further thinning of the industry, and an increase in insolvency cases to pre-pandemic levels is predicted in the coming years. Young start-ups are particularly affected, almost half of which are less than five years old.

Markus Santo experienced firsthand the severe economic crisis that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic and was exacerbated by inflation. His clientele has changed significantly over time: While in the early years there were still many students visiting the shop, today it is mainly more mature guests. Over half of the visitors come from outside Trossingen. Despite the challenges, the “long tapas night” is still very popular and makes the hearts of fans of Spanish cuisine beat faster.

A look at the future

The challenges are great and it remains to be seen how the catering industry in Trossingen will develop. The ongoing economic pressures and competition in the sector mean that many landlords have to fear for their business. The special celebration of Santo could be the beginning of a new chapter in which the “Café Galerie” explores new ways to win over customers.
Ultimately, it is up to the entire industry to find innovative solutions and adapt to the challenges. Because as Markus Santo's example shows: With a good concept and a pinch of creativity, you can survive even in difficult times - and perhaps even look back on a "birthday week" that will go down in the history of Trossinger's gastronomic life.