Change of tenant in the Eisbär: New duo takes over the heavy metal bar!

Change of tenant in the Eisbär: New duo takes over the heavy metal bar!

The trendy Eisbär bar in Esslingen is facing a significant change of tenant. The current operator, Thorsten Lengle, will be breaking up his tent at the Eisbär in July 2025 after eleven years in order to gain more time for family and leisure time. The challenges that come with running a heavy metal bar require a lot of dedication, especially alongside a full-time job. Lengle emphasizes that it is difficult to live from the bar alone, which the new tenants, Jan Ihmels and Svenja Küttenbaum, have also confirmed.

The Polar Bear has established itself as a popular stop in Esslingen, especially for visitors after a walk around the Frauenkirche. According to Restaurant Guru, the bar enjoys positive reviews, which are underlined by a user rating of 4.5 points on Google. The atmosphere and friendly staff are particularly praised, even if the bar has some restrictions - for example, there is no option for delivery or take-away food. In addition, the restaurant is not barrier-free and has limited opening hours.

Opening times and offers

The opening times of the Eisbär are as follows:

• Montag: Geschlossen
• Dienstag: Geschlossen
• Mittwoch: 19:00-01:00
• Donnerstag: 19:00-01:00
• Freitag: 19:00-03:00
• Samstag: 19:00-03:00
• Sonntag: Geschlossen

The price range per person is up to 9 euros, which makes the polar bear an attractive destination for dinner with friends.

An analysis by Foodnotify shows that the catering industry in Germany is facing a multitude of challenges. The industry has suffered from closures, staff shortages and price increases in recent years. By 2024, VAT on food and drink will rise from 7% to 19%, putting many catering businesses under pressure. This could also affect Eisbär's pricing policy and need to negotiate how they respond to tax changes and increasing operating costs.

Another important point is the ongoing shortage of skilled workers, which is affecting many companies. Although the catering industry saw an increase in employees in 2022, the numbers fell significantly compared to 2019. Romanians and other foreign workers could provide an answer to this deficit, but companies are under intense pressure to pay adequate wages in order to remain competitive.

The new tenants are aware of the challenges that lie ahead. Ihmels and Küttenbaum are faced with the task of maintaining the atmosphere and popularity of the Eisbär, while at the same time finding new ways to run the bar profitably. Innovative approaches, such as implementing AI to optimize operations, could represent a possible solution.

Despite the many challenges that accompany the catering industry, the industry also sees opportunities for adaptation and optimization. Whether the polar bear will succeed in this remains to be seen. The coming months offer a lot of scope for changes, both in the restaurant itself and in the entire gastronomy in the region.