Witten's Backhouse: A Fascinating Glance into the Past
From Bread to the Big Apple: The Unconventional Life of Witten's Backhaus Owner
After nearly a quarter-century, the Backhaus in Witten comes to a close with its sale to the Citybäckers chain from Dortmund. We take a look back at the journey of this Witten institution from a humble bakery to a city landmark.
The Flagship on Dortmunder Straße has been a staple in the Wittener cityscape for close to 25 years. Initially, the Grasshoff family envisioned three buildings on the site – a Backhaus, a car wash, and a windmill – but only the bakery came to fruition. An investor nabbed the car wash location elsewhere, and the windmill proposal met political opposition due to noise and shade concerns, leaving only the Backhaus standing tall.
A garden terrace, big enough for 120 seats, was added the following year, complete with a record-breaking giant strawberry cake to celebrate the occasion [1].
Changes and innovations came over the years. In 2000, the Back-Drive opened, making it the pioneer of drive-in bakeries in Witten, offering customers the convenience of ordering bread and more from their vehicles. This pioneering spirit continued with the addition of a significant extension to the flagship store, providing extra space and seats [1].
Unfortunately, forays into the pizza business and the "Hallo Pizza" franchise didn't last long due to waning popularity. A high-stakes robbery in 2009 also made headlines when two men stole around 50,000 euros from Andreas Grasshoff, tying him up and leaving him by a sewage pipe. Grasshoff remained optimistic, stating that the perpetrators were only after his money[2].
During the same year, an unexpected chart success catapulted Andreas Grasshoff from bakery owner to singer. Schnappi the Crocodile, a popular children's song, inspired Grasshoff to dabble in music with the help of jazz musician Wolf Codera. They released the single "Ein Mann sieht Brot" on 200 CDs, with proceeds going to World Hunger Aid[3].
Fast forward to 2014, and Andreas Grasshoff swaps the quiet streets of Witten for the bustling metropolis of New York, seeking to distance himself from a legal proceeding that was ultimately dismissed[4]. The trained baker then moves on to Paris with his partner, where he continues to invest in various projects.
The men’s parking spaces at Backhaus caused some controversy, but the then managing director Julian Graßhoff claimed they were simply making a statement and aiming to give men a little extra space, citing his research on the topic[4].
Now, the Bookbäckers chain assumes control of the Backhaus branches, bringing their famous "Feuerbrot" to Witten[5]. Be sure to visit the original Ruhrstraße location to experience Witten’s rich history and unique offerings one last time.
[[1] Information about Backhaus Witten as a local coffee house and social gathering space]
[[2] Details about the robbery incident at Backhaus Witten]
[[3] Facts about Andreas Grasshoff's music career inspired by Schnappi the Crocodile]
[[4] Insights into Andreas Graßhoff's personal life and move from Witten]
[[5] Updates on the sale of Backhaus Witten to Citybäckers and their future plans]
In the shifting landscape of Wittener businesses, the Backhaus, once owned by Andreas Grasshoff, recognized as an industry pioneer with the introduction of drive-in bakeries and the Back-Drive concept, has now joined hands with the Citybäckers chain, known for their signature "Feuerbrot," in the wider retail and finance sector. Despite changes such as forays into the fledgling pizza business and a chart-topping musical career, the Backhaus remains a keystone in the local retail and business community, embodying an intriguing blend of tradition and innovation.
