Ten years on, the café remained a cherished local institution.
A Tough Decision: Closing the Neighborhood's Favorite Café
Take a moment to listen to Beate Matuszak's heartfelt introspection. After 10.5 years, she's deciding to shutter her cherished cafe, "Snoopkraam" in Hirschgraben (Eilbek). For years, it's been a beacon in the area, offering more than just delicious coffee and scrumptious cake. Yet, Matuszak can't shoulder the physical and mental strain anymore. Emotions run high as she bids farewell to her devoted customers.
Beate Matuszak (42) is a relentless worker, clocking 70 hours a week. Weekends are few and far between, with only about 10 to 15 days off annually, often in small chunks. Her 11-year-old sister is at a party and can't help care for her 2.5-year-old daughter today. "I was just on vacation, and my daughter said, 'But mom, you better not work more than two hours a day!'" Matuszak recalls on Facebook. "And guess who couldn't keep that? It's the relentless pursuit of "Snoopkraam" that robs her children of their childhood and her of her peace of mind, particularly mentally."
Saying Goodbye to a Local Institution
Besides the emotional drain, Beate Matuszak has been dealing with rising minimum wages and burdensome bureaucracy as a small business owner. In March, she couldn't pay herself at all, she informs us. "I'm terribly sorry for my employees," she laments, "but often I was the one who took the smallest paycheck home. As a single mother, I not only lacked time but also struggled financially for my daughters."
"Snoopkraam" will officially close on New Year's Eve 2025, even though it recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. To celebrate, the café offered discounts: a 10-euro lunch menu, a 10 percent discount on all desserts and hot drinks, and a free slice of cake with every soup.
"The response to our offer has been so positive that we've decided to extend it until Monday," says Matuszak. While the news of the café's closing has not been met with celebration, there's a sense of understanding in the neighborhood. "I'm flooded with emails," says the operator. One heartfelt message from a neighboring couple particularly moved Matuszak: "Snoopkraam is more than just a restaurant or a coffeehouse. It's a gathering place, a refuge in Eilbek, a place of camaraderie. Where individuals greet each other because they keep meeting, eventually leading to conversations."
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Snoopkraam: A Place where Spirits soar and Coffee tastes like Love.** The Snoopkraam is more than a meeting spot or a cafe; it's an oasis of good vibes. Not just something you can feel, but taste in every morsel, knowing that conviction and affection went into its preparation." For many Facebook users, the impending closure resonates deeply. "I'm incredibly sad, but I understand it completely. The bureaucratic and political reasons, along with the cost increases, hit many small businesses," one user writes. Another adds, "My sincere wishes for you, Beate. May the end of the year bring you some peace, and a future filled with joy."
Finding the Next Chapter: The future holds uncertainties for Beate Matuszak. She's confident she'll find another venture utilizing her experience. Yet, questions linger: Will her staff leave before the end of the year for better opportunities? Will she manage to clear her debts before passing the torch? And above all, will the neighborhood find another haven as welcoming as the beloved "Snoopkraam"? Those interested can reach out to her on Facebook.
- Due to the bureaucratic and financial challenges faced by small businesses, a user on Facebook expressed sympathy for Beate Matuszak, who is looking to transition into a new venture using her experience.
- As the Snoopkraam café prepares to close on New Year's Eve 2025, a Facebook user emphasized the cafe's role as more than just a meeting spot or cafe, it was an oasis of good vibes where the love and affection were tangible in every morsel.
- In light of small-business owners struggling with rising costs and bureaucracy, a user on Facebook recognized the emotional and financial strain faced by Beate Matuszak and offered well-wishes for her future endeavors.
- Despite the impending closure of the Snoopkraam, another heartfelt message from a neighboring couple highlighted the importance of places like the café, stating that it was a gathering spot, a refuge, and a place of camaraderie where people connected on a personal level.
