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Sausalitos closes in Wolfsburg: Farewell after bankruptcy drama!
On June 28, 2025, Sausalitos in Wolfsburg will celebrate its farewell after bankruptcy. The branch is closing due to a decline in guests.
Sausalitos closes in Wolfsburg: Farewell after bankruptcy drama!
A bitter farewell for fans of Mexican delicacies: The Sausalitos chain, once very popular for its cocktails and Mexican dishes, had to file for bankruptcy in March 2025. The company is desperately looking for an investor to keep the doors open, while the Wolfsburg branch has now announced its closure. News38 reports that this not only reflects the end of a restaurant, but also a sad trend in the catering industry.
The problems began long before the bankruptcy. The decline in the number of guests that has been observed since the Corona pandemic has led to a proportion of closures that are hitting the industry hard. In Germany there were around 62,000 closures of catering establishments between 2019 and 2023 Statista reported. During the crisis, many restaurants are forced into an endless battle to stay afloat.
Farewell celebration
As a last chance to say goodbye, the Wolfsburg branch invites you to the “closing party” on June 28th. This day is announced as a special celebration for the previous guests, who can once again pay homage to the place where they spent many wonderful hours. The significant decline in guests was a central reason why the bankruptcy application was filed on March 19, 2025, which resulted in the temporary closure of the popular location.
An important aspect of the situation is the provisional insolvency administrator Michael Schuster, who hopes to find an investor in a timely manner in order to maintain operations despite the adverse circumstances. The chain still had a large number of branches - over 40 across Germany - some of which have already been closed. Franchisees are not directly affected by the bankruptcy, which offers some hope for some locations.
The effects of the corona pandemic
The corona pandemic has not only changed eating habits, but has also drastically affected the entire catering business. The decline in guest numbers and the associated financial difficulties are not an isolated case at Sausalitos. As various reports show, many restaurateurs can no longer bear the cut. 49 percent of all insolvencies since 2020 have affected companies that are five years old or less. Casual dining, like this chain, has been hit particularly hard by the industry's ongoing difficulties, and the outlook is anything but rosy.
The data is alarming: over 8,000 closures have been bankruptcies in the past, and the general economic environment remains unfavorable for the hospitality industry. The increase in the sales tax for food has made the situation even worse and shows once again that in the catering industry you need a good hand in order to carry on courageously despite the hardship.
The situation is also concerning for Sausalitos employees. Although wages and salaries are secured through insolvency money until the end of May, it remains to be seen how many more jobs will be lost if the last branches have to close. An uncertain outlook for many who have to look for new perspectives.
Overall, the closure of the Sausalitos branch in Wolfsburg highlights the challenges that the catering industry in Germany continues to face. If you want to do good business in this exciting time, you not only need courage, but also a good deal of luck.