Another Century-Old Coffee Shop Closes... Famous Viennese Chess Café Shut Down Due to Pandemic Impact

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought significant changes to many people's lifestyles, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the entire coffee industry. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the operations of the entire coffee industry came to an abrupt halt, with even a "store closure" crisis emerging in the past year. In January of this year, Coffee Workshop reported that Italy's oldest café—Caffè Florian—might close down after its operating rights expire this year.

A café that had operated for 300 years, witnessed the changes of eras, and created much glorious history ultimately fell victim to the pandemic, leaving many netizens feeling heartbroken yet helpless. Although the news prompted netizens from various countries to plead for support, especially people from Italy and France who hoped the government would help this legendary coffee shop, everyone faced difficulties during the pandemic, and consequently, the government did not provide rental support to Caffè Florian.

While people were still lamenting the fall of the legendary café, another Vienna establishment—Cafe Sperlhof, which had been open for 98 years—also announced that due to the pandemic's impact, the café would close its doors on December 31, 2021. Upon hearing the news, Vienna residents exclaimed: "NO!!!"

A Unique Café with 1200 Board Games

Since opening in 1923, Cafe Sperlhof has always been located in the second district without changing its address. The most notable feature of this old café is its collection of 1200 board games, many of which are out of production and no longer available. These games, much like rare antiques, have been carefully preserved by the establishment, making it essentially a board game museum disguised as a café. Consequently, many films and television series have chosen to shoot scenes there. It's worth mentioning that this café has another distinctive characteristic—customers can still use the discontinued Austrian schilling for payment.

A Welcoming Community Hub

Since opening, the café has attracted many gamers, game testers, and game designers who all adore these antique games and often engage in matches with visiting tourists or locals. Many visitors have described Cafe Sperlhof as an extended "cozy living room" where people can enjoy coffee together, play games, and make new friends. Besides board games, Cafe Sperlhof also houses many books, offering those who prefer not to socialize an opportunity to read and expand their knowledge.

The End of an Era

After announcing the year-end closure, the owner who had managed the café for 35 years, long-serving employees, and local residents all expressed great reluctance to part with the establishment, as it held memories for several generations. The owner expressed gratitude to all customers and nearby residents who had visited over the years and invited everyone to come for one last cup of coffee and play one final game before closing, creating lasting memories.

Running a café for nearly a century depends on the ability to retain local customers over time. By offering various recreational games, it attracted customers of all ages to entertain themselves and exercise their minds, alleviating the pressures of life and work. During the two years of the pandemic, Vienna experienced four lockdowns, preventing cafés from operating and residents from going out, while rent still had to be paid... This ultimately brought an end to this café, whose business model deserved to be studied by future generations, in 2021.

Image source: Internet

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