The café Weerdinge in Weerdinge, closed at the end of last year, may be converted into an apartment complex. That confirms property owner Derk Jan Weeke. He is currently researching the possibilities. By the summer he expects to make a decision.
A permit application is out the door, agrees Weeke. “But it is not yet said that it will continue.” According to him, this is still bound by matters such as financing. “First get around that the renovation is allowed.” He can therefore not yet indicate how many homes are involved. Or that they become purchase or rental apartments.
What is certainly certain is the preservation of the characteristic appearance of the building. Since the end of the 19th century, the striking building on Dorpsstraat has fulfilled various roles. In addition to café and hotel, this was also cinema and liquor store. “I don’t change anything about the appearance. I don’t want that myself. This place has a beautiful history given the old functions and the location on the former railway line (the Noordosterlocaalspoorweg or Nols, which was here in the first half of the last century). Sin to change that.”
Weeke also has a hard head in that hospitality industry is viable at this location. He bought the pub in 2021 from then managers Henk van der Heide and Irene Gosselink, who scoured the business for 15 years.
He then rented the building to various entrepreneurs, but nobody managed to keep the café in his legs for a longer period of time. “It is hard work with little yield. Because I have also seen what the turnovers are and what you have to do for it. I don’t want to make someone else tasty with something that is not feasible.”
If the residential plans do not get off the ground, then Weeke will take a different bow again. But what, he can’t say that either. “Perhaps again hospitality, but with a completely different concept. But I am not watching that at the moment.”
In addition to Café Wedinge, more catering businesses in Weerdinge have disappeared in recent years. Brasserie Wombat and quick buffet Westerhof no longer exist. The only thing that remains is the Irish restaurant Flanagan’s.