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Shock in Wolfsburg: Sausalitos closes forever after bankruptcy!
Sausalitos in Wolfsburg closes after bankruptcy. Find out more about the reasons and fate of the branch.
Shock in Wolfsburg: Sausalitos closes forever after bankruptcy!
A popular name in the catering industry is saying goodbye: the restaurant and cocktail bar chain Sausalitos has filed for preliminary bankruptcy. The branch in Wolfsburg in particular is now closing its doors. Despite all efforts to find an investor to continue operations, the decline in guest numbers due to the corona pandemic and years of weak economic activity in Germany was too significant for the chain to stabilize again. How news38 reports, the Wolfsburg branch will celebrate an emotional conclusion with a “closing party” on June 28th.
Sausalitos was considered one of the most popular destinations for cocktails and Mexican food, but the corona pandemic has left its mark. The last day of opening in Wolfsburg is announced as a special celebration, but many employees look to the future with worried expressions. The provisional insolvency administrator Michael Schuster will now coordinate the next steps, with the wages and salaries of over 1,000 employees being secured through insolvency money until the end of May BR communicates.
Causes of bankruptcy
A look at the general situation in the restaurant industry shows that the closures paint a sad picture, and not just at Sausalitos. Between 2019 and 2023, around 62,000 catering establishments closed in Germany, of which around 8,000 were bankrupt. The industry has still not recovered from the shocking impact of the pandemic and the trend is expected to continue. Statista confirms this and expects that the overall economic conditions will remain unfavorable.
Smaller businesses and caterers, which generally have not existed for more than five years, are particularly affected. A dramatic picture emerges, especially when we consider the increase in sales tax for food since the beginning of 2023: This has further exacerbated the situation, so that many restaurants have still not been able to reach the sales level before the pandemic.
A look into the past
Sausalitos was founded in 1994 by Thomas Hirschberger in Ingolstadt and has since become the market leader in the Mexican-American gastro bar concept. After being taken over by investors in 2014, the chain seemed to be on the right track. But now the cat has been let out of the bag since March 19, 2025, and the reasons for the bankruptcy are clear: a massive decline in the number of visitors and changed customer behavior have led to many of the approximately 40 branches in Germany having already been closed.
The Wolfsburg branch has long been a place for enjoyment and social evenings, but now it turns out that the numbers are no longer correct. A farewell is a bitter pill to swallow not only for the employees, but also for the loyal guests. The hope remains that an investor might step in, but the signs are currently pointing to farewell.