Reduced foot traffic and sales revenues: a downturn in Münster's hospitality sector
Published on 2 August 2025, at 9:03 AM
In Münster, the hospitality industry is facing a tough time, with several restaurants such as Vapiano, Aposto, and Besito recently closing their doors. This trend is not unique to Münster, but reflects a broader national and international challenge faced by many restaurants and hospitality venues.
The primary cause of this struggle is the economic pressure from rising food and wage costs. According to a survey and reports from dpa and Westfalen news sources, over 90% of businesses in the sector expect food costs to continue rising throughout 2025. This, coupled with wage inflation, leading to higher labor costs and reduced staffing capacity, has resulted in shrinking profit margins for many businesses.
The uncertainty about the future viability of restaurants has caused closures and operational cutbacks. While the survey does not provide Münster-specific details beyond general economic pressures on hospitality, these systemic cost challenges are reported widely and are likely impacting Münster's hospitality sector similarly.
Despite the challenges, Stefan Ziemke, owner of Burgerrestaurant Hochstapler am Hafen, remains optimistic. However, he admits that he isn't having the summer he envisioned. At peak times, his restaurant had up to 200 reservations a day, but now it's down to about 70. He pays around 9,000 euros in labor costs each month and trusts in his regular customer base, looking forward to the upcoming VAT reduction.
The high rents and rising prices are making it difficult for many people in Münster to dine out. This is evident in Seppenrade, where many residents are currently struggling financially. Margret Simon and Gregor Wienhölter are among them.
While some restaurants in Münster have already closed, others like Burgerrestaurant Hochstapler am Hafen are struggling to stay afloat. The audio for this article can be started and stopped using the commands "Start audio" and "Stop audio".
[1] Source: Survey at the harbor in Münster and reports from dpa and Westfalen news sources.
1) In an effort to manage the increasing financial burdens, more businesses in the Münster hospitality sector might need to reconsider their finance strategies and find ways to cut costs, such as adjusting their prices or renegotiating lease agreements.
2) Apart from the hospitality industry, the increased food and wage costs, and subsequent inflation in labor costs, can have an impact on other businesses in Münster and beyond, potentially creating a ripple effect across the entire local business community.
