Luxembourg City municipal council has attempted to reach a compromise this summer, offering proprietors the chance to open their stalls in localised, reduced capacity. But many owners still feel as if they have been left in the lurch, particularly food and drink stalls, due to Covid restrictions.
At present, the capital is running its local fair initiative “Kiermes am Duerf”, with the scaled down Fouer-alternative “Fun um Glacis” imminent. The latter will offer a reduced number of games and rides, accompanied with a handful of food and drink stalls. Many of the stallholders have had to reorganise their business models to meet with coronavirus restrictions, particular those serving food. However, for many, such reorganisation has not been feasible due to time and financial constraints.
For many, the uncertainty over Covid restrictions earlier in the year meant that stallholders were waiting to get the green light, which did not become clear until 1 June, as to whether any fairs would be permitted to go ahead. However, this meant that for many owners, it was too late, and too dear.
Romain Hoffmann, who owns Friture Irène, said the number of conditions put in place with regard to Covid restrictions had made it impossible for him to convert his business to meet the new demands. The financial input would have been too high, in addition to the changes made to their regular patch, where they had previously calculated logistics such as cables required to provide gas and electricity. This would have “cost a fortune”, said Hoffmann.
Hoffmann said many owners like him had now been left adrift, without financial compensation. They were advised to apply again next year, when the Schueberfouer may return in its traditional format. He said he, and others, would have preferred to have been informed at an earlier stage.
There is no planned financial support for the usual Glacis food and drinks. As for the stalls participating in “Kiermes am Duerf”, owners are eligible to receive a grant of €5,000-10,000.
Charles Hary, president of the stallowners’ federation, said it was a shame their hospitality had been forgotten in a sense, although a handful of the larger traditional restaurateurs had opted to adapt their business in order to take part in the fair alternative.
Patrick Weyrich, who owns a 650-capacity mobile restaurant and has spent over 75 years serving crowds at the Schueberfouer, said his stand had been deemed too large for the revised Glacis fair. However, he had been permitted to participate in the ""d’Stad lieft” initiative elsewhere in the city. He said he would have preferred his usual spot at the Fouer, but it was better to adapt his business rather than go without for more months. In addition, the costs of setting up at the Glacis were too prohibitive this year, whereas “Kiermes am Duerf” was deemed a better business decision. He expressed gratitude for the financial support involved as well.
Once again, the majority of stallowners are looking to next summer as a beacon of hope.
