Because everyone knows the best pizza comes from…. Germany?
The German casual-dining chain serving Italian-style food, Vapiano, is likely to re-start operations in the coming days, with the outlet in Groningen likely to also open. A spokesman for the restaurant chain has informed the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf of the re-opening plans. As reported by the Groningen Ondernemers Courant. It is therefore plausible that the Groningen branch of the chain on the Poelestraat / Nieuwe Markt could open on 1 June.
Vapiano went bankrupt in early May. The originally German chain had financial problems, in large part also caused by the Coronavirs outbreak. The Dutch branch of Vapiano was also involved in the bankruptcy.
According to a spokesman for the chain, shareholders had agreed a rescue deal on May 15 to re-start the business. It is not yet known what this restart will look like, but it is already known that the Van der Valk family have become shareholders and now own around half the chain.
Vapiano has nine branches in The Netherlands. “We are currently working hard to adapt the restaurants to the corona measures so that Vapiano can open again as soon as possible. In principle, the restaurant will be open again on 1 June for a limited number of visitors”, a spokesman says.
Vapiano was first opened in Hamburg, Germany, in 2002. The chain had around 230 restaurants in over 30 countries, with many being run by franchisees. In 2018 and 2019 the chain reported financial difficulties caused in part by its rapid expansion.
Image via Wikimedia user Christianreich. License here.
