Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
Four Ahoi Steffen Henssler restaurants enter insolvency proceedings
Four Ahoi Steffen Henssler restaurants have entered insolvency proceedings in Germany, involving locations in Kiel, Marina-Wendtorf, Bonn and Otterndorf.
The restaurants are run by Elbterrassen GmbH & Co.
KG, which applied for insolvency because it faced the risk of being unable to pay its debts.
About 80 employees are affected, but the businesses are still operating and no dismissals have been made so far.
Restaurants in Germany have been facing higher costs, including for staff and energy, while many customers are spending less on eating out.
The four locations are being assessed for whether they can continue, and the operator is discussing recovery options with the franchise company.
The administrator said there was a positive chance of restructuring, but no outcome has been announced.
Steffen Henssler and his brother built the chain in 2017 and sold their shares in the franchise company in late 2024; the restaurants still use Henssler's name.
The operator of four Ahoi Steffen Henssler restaurants has applied for insolvency proceedings because of impending inability to pay its debts.
The affected restaurants are in Kiel, Marina-Wendtorf, Bonn and Otterndorf.
About 80 employees are affected, but the restaurants are continuing to operate and no dismissals have been made so far.
The operator and an insolvency administrator say they are assessing options to restructure the restaurants and their ability to continue.
The chain had 12 restaurants at the start of 2025 and has since closed three locations.
- Who
- Elbterrassen GmbH & Co. KG, the operator of the four restaurants, filed the application. About 80 employees are affected.
- What
- The company applied for insolvency proceedings in self-administration.
- When
- The article was published on November 9, 2026; the application date is not stated.
- Where
- The affected restaurants are in Kiel, Marina-Wendtorf, Bonn and Otterndorf, Germany.
- Why
- The company cited impending inability to pay its debts. The article also describes rising staffing and energy costs and customers saving on restaurant visits.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Steffen Henssler and his brother Peter Henssler built the restaurant chain.
The Henssler brothers sold their shares in Ahoi Franchise GmbH.
The chain had 12 restaurants.
The Cologne and Hildesheim locations closed.
The Grömitz location closed.
Bild reported that the operator had applied for insolvency proceedings for four restaurants.
- Affected locations
- Kiel, Marina-Wendtorf, Bonn and Otterndorf
- Employees affected
- About 80
- Operator
- Elbterrassen GmbH & Co. KG
- Insolvency reason
- Impending inability to pay debts
- Restaurants at start of 2025
- 12
- Restaurants currently outside the proceedings
- 5: Hamburg, Scharbeutz, St. Peter-Ording, Travemünde and Wismar
What people are saying
The Elbterrassen GmbH & Co. KG has filed an application because of impending inability to pay its debts.
Restructuring options are currently being examined and discussions are being held with the franchisor. Each location is being assessed for its ability to continue.
The businesses will continue to operate without restrictions. And so far there have been no dismissals.
I consider the possibility of a restructuring to be very positive.