Closure of the Hallertürlein: Café Schnepperschütz is fighting for survival!

Closure of the Hallertürlein: Café Schnepperschütz is fighting for survival!

The “Hallertürlein” tunnel between the old town and the popular Hallerwiese will be closed from November 3, 2025 until April 2026. This unexpected announcement has caused considerable anger among residents and especially among restaurateurs. Café Schnepperschütz is particularly affected; its owner, Ralf Siegemund, only found out about the measure shortly before the lockdown and now fears massive losses in sales. Already in 2022, during a similar lockdown, the cafe suffered a decline of around a third of its annual sales.

Siegemund has expressed his displeasure on social media about the lack of advance notice and poor communication from the city. He criticizes the fact that the approval and information about the closure should have been communicated by the Public Space Service Company (SÖR), since it is a public bicycle path. The city denies responsibility and explains that the closure is necessary due to a private construction project in order to protect trees and green spaces.

The impact of lockdown

The current renovation work, which includes laying pipes and setting up storage areas, is significantly affecting access to Café Schnepperschütz. The operator also pointed out that the lack of information signs severely limited accessibility for wheelchair users and seniors. To improve the situation, Siegemund proposes a temporary ramp made of sand and steel plates to keep the beer garden accessible.

The spring months of March and April are crucial for the café as they account for around half of the annual sales. Against this background, operators fear whether they will be able to overcome the financial challenges. Another suggestion is to open the path on weekends when there is no construction work. With such an approach, the cafe could potentially retain some of its customers, thereby minimizing lost sales.

Construction site management in Nuremberg

Current events also raise questions about construction site management in Nuremberg. Effective construction site coordination is essential to reduce disruption to traffic flow while carrying out the necessary work on the infrastructure. Forward-looking planning and a clear communication strategy are crucial. In order to overcome such challenges, an integrated platform for bundling all information about construction sites would be necessary, as discussed in Civitas.

The city has promised to set up diversion routes to relieve pressure on residents and commuters. Cyclists have to travel an additional 250 or 110 meters due to the diversions, while pedestrians only have to travel 2 meters more. Despite these measures, there remains uncertainty for restaurateurs and residents as to what the long-term impact of the lockdown will be.

Overall, it is clear that the current situation requires joint reflection on the city's communication strategies and closer cooperation with the affected residents and businesses. The dialogue between the city and those affected could help to find solutions that take into account both the protection of the environment and the economic interests of the catering industry.

Even at a time when necessary construction sites are unavoidable, questions arise about the efficiency of information, the respectful treatment of residents and the preservation of local businesses. How the city of Nuremberg will respond to this challenge remains to be seen.

For further information on the topic and the closure of the Hallertürlein, we recommend the reporting from Nordbayern and t-online.