Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Maja Giger and Stefan Wälte to take over Rössli in Illnau
Maja Giger and Stefan Wälte will take over the Rössli in Illnau, Switzerland, after the current lease ends in 2026.
Giger has been managing the inn on an interim basis, and Wälte has been its longtime head chef.
Current leaseholder Rainer Hoffer is stepping down and has agreed to an early, orderly handover with the city; one local report says he made the decision because of a persistent illness.
The Rössli is a historic inn that dates to 1827 and includes a hotel, event rooms and spaces used by clubs.
Staff will keep their jobs and existing bookings remain valid, while the services are set to continue as usual.
The inn will close from December 27 to January 10 for year-end and handover work, then reopen under the new lease on January 11, 2027.
Maja Giger and Stefan Wälte will take over the lease of the Rössli in Illnau from 1 January 2027.
They are already part of the business, with Giger serving as interim manager and Wälte as its long-serving head chef.
Current staff will be retained, and existing reservations will remain valid.
The restaurant will close from 27 December 2026 to 10 January 2027 for year-end and handover work, then reopen under the new lease on 11 January.
Outgoing tenant Rainer Hoffer is ending his lease at the end of 2026 without seeking an extension.
- Who
- Maja Giger and Stefan Wälte will take over from Rainer Hoffer.
- What
- They will become the Rössli’s new tenants, through a limited liability company being formed.
- When
- The lease begins on 1 January 2027; the venue reopens on 11 January after a short closure.
- Where
- The Rössli in Illnau, Switzerland.
- Why
- Hoffer chose not to extend his lease. One report says he made the decision because of a persistent illness.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Giger took over the Rössli’s management on an interim basis to relieve Hoffer.
Hoffer’s lease ends, and the regular operation is scheduled to continue through 26 December.
The Rössli is scheduled to close for year-end and handover work.
Giger and Wälte’s new lease begins.
The Rössli is scheduled to reopen under the new lease.
- Incoming tenants
- Maja Giger and Stefan Wälte
- Outgoing tenant
- Rainer Hoffer
- Lease begins
- 1 January 2027
- Closure
- 27 December 2026 to 10 January 2027
- Reopening
- 11 January 2027
3 sources
What people are saying
Together with our team, we want to preserve what has proved successful, set new impulses and develop the Rössli as a lively meeting place for all generations.
We thank Rainer Hoffer for his great commitment and the challenging positioning of the Gasthof Rössli in recent years.
I am very pleased that Maja Giger and Stefan Wälte, a well-established duo who know the house inside out and will continue to run it with passion, are taking over.