15 years ago Katja Fröhlich (53) took over the neighborhood pub Photo: Ufuk Ucta
By Pauline von Pezold
The neighborhood pub “Zur Mütze” at Oranienstrasse 65 in Kreuzberg has been around since 1956, and the current owner, Katja Fröhlich (53), took over 15 years ago. However, due to noise complaints from neighbors, the popular meeting place for seniors is now on the verge of closure – a shock for regular customers and the owner.
The neighborhood bar “Zur Mütze” is about to close – it all started in the corona pandemic Photo: Ufuk Ucta
It all started during the Corona pandemic. The office space in the neighboring house of Mütze was no longer used and was quickly converted into an apartment. It didn’t take long for new tenants to move in. It must have been clear to the new neighbors when they signed the rental agreement: things can get louder next to a bar.
Petra L. (59) says: “I think what’s happening here is very, very sad. You can’t rent an apartment next to a restaurant and then complain that it gets louder. I have the feeling that the fronts are so hardened that it’s already degenerating into harassment.” Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Some time after moving into the neighboring house, the Corona lockdown was declared over and the hat was finally allowed to open again. The regular customers were happy about it, the new neighbors less so. Since the reopening, the police have been regularly at the door. “You don’t pull over a tram and then complain about the noise,” says Katja Fröhlich angrily.
Gregor K. (67) has known Katja Fröhlich’s family for 23 years and has been a regular customer at Mütze since they took over the hat. “If you can no longer talk or laugh outside in the summer because they are getting upset, or if the police come early in the morning because the chairs are set up too loudly, then that is harassment for me. That doesn’t work. We will fight to keep the hat from closing,” he says Photo: Ufuk Ucta
The neighbors are diligently collecting signatures to ensure that the pub is closed. “They just want to get rid of me – and they’re doing everything they can to make it happen,” says Katja Fröhlich, worried. In order to counteract the attack from the neighboring house, she is also collecting signatures – to keep the pub open.
Christoph Burdin (69) has been wearing the hat since 1985. “I’m here three days a week. You really can’t complain about the volume. “We want to have a normal conversation, so we make sure it’s not too loud,” he says Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Regular customer Christoph Burdin (69) has been wearing the Mütze since 1985. “This is the only decent little German pub we have left here – where should we go?” he says. Peter W. (67) adds: “I have the feeling that in 20 years we will have to look at neighborhood bars in the museum.”