City cancels contract Kiosk at the Rheinaue may have to close

Bonn · After 17 years of operation, the lack of a sewage line at her kiosk at the Rheinaue has become a problem. Now Marion Lennarz may have to close her snack bar.

Quietly, the city administration cancelled the lease extension for the kiosk. CDU politician Herbert Kaupert learned about it by chance when he spoke to Marion Lennarz at an event. 55-year-old Lennarz runs the very popular kiosk on Charles de Gaulle Straße at the northern end of the Rheinaue. At noon, the snack bar is humming. It’s cult among some Bonners. There are not only walkers and cyclists, but also many employees from the adjacent offices, the Post Tower, the Deutsche Welle and the UN campus who visit the kiosk.

"I have now received the third termination," says Lennarz, while she wipes the plastic counter of the snack bar. The first notice came at the beginning of the year and then there was a deadline set for June. Now, she is to clear out the kiosk by the end of September. The City of Bonn did not want to respond to an inquiry, and referred instead to the suggestion that came out of a district meeting at the beginning of July. A spokesperson said an official statement would come on September 5. The matter is not open for public debate.

Lack of sewage lines leads to termination

In the confidential papers which give notice of termination, the city cites a lack of sewage lines at the kiosk. “This has only occurred to the city after 17 years?” asks Lennarz, puzzled. She bought the kiosk stand 20 years ago from the previous owner. At the time, the land belonged to the federal government. For 17 years now, the property has been owned by the city. Permission to operate the kiosk is extended on a yearly basis. “Everything has been quiet for all these years. I hadn’t even given any thought to it - until the first notice came”, said Lennarz.

The problem first came to the attention of the city during canal work last year. It was determined that the Kiosk's drainage system was connected to the overflow of the Rheinaue lake as well as to the Post Tower. In a declaration which was not made public, the city reported that the sewage went directly into the Rhine, and this had become problematic because over the years the kiosk had changed into more of a snack bar. Since then, she said she collects the water used for washing up and dumps it into the sewer. She said she disposes of the the grease separately.

Possible buyers are deterred

The city says the kiosk had not been properly licensed to operate at that location and that it had only been tolerated. In addition, the City Parks Department believes this location should be permanently given up from a technical point of view.

Lennarz said a young couple had expressed interest in buying the kiosk from her, and adding lavatories. But they were no longer interested after the termination from the city.

At the request of the CDU, the district council has decided that the city may negotiate with the current tenant of the kiosk to extend the lease. But she would need to fulfill certain requirements such as a proper sewage connection, and the construction of restroom facilities. For Lennarz, this is difficult because she is not sure that she can manage the improvements from a financial standpoint. But she asks “What is the alternative?”

(Orig. text: Dylan Cem Akalin. Translation: ckloep)

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