The company plans to keep its restaurants open and ensure employee salaries are paid while seeking investors.
The Sausalitos restaurant chain has filed for bankruptcy proceedings in a Munich district court, impacting several companies within its group, including Sausalitos Holding GmbH and its regional subsidiaries.
The court has appointed attorney Michael Schuster from Jaffe Law Firm as the bankruptcy trustee.
Despite the financial turmoil, the company has announced that all of its owned restaurants will remain operational, and salaries for approximately 1,000 employees will be disbursed by the end of May.
The main factors contributing to the financial difficulties cited by the company include the lasting effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic, shifts in consumer behavior, a reduction in foot traffic, and a general decline in revenue and profitability influenced by the economic climate in Germany.
The 'drink-oriented gastronomy' sector has been particularly hard hit.
Founded by Thomas Hirschberger in Ingolstadt in 1994, Sausalitos was sold to investors in 2014 and currently operates over 40 locations across Germany.
Despite entering bankruptcy, the company expresses its intention to find a solution that enables its recovery and preserves its brand, known for its unique atmosphere and popular cocktails.
As the future of Sausalitos remains uncertain, the administration and the bankruptcy trustee are working to maintain operations at its restaurants and ensure continuity for its staff.
The search for an investor who can revitalize the brand and restore it to profitability is ongoing.