After the bumpy sale of the Pfungstädter brewery last year, which brought the company into the headlines for weeks, there are now again inconsistencies.

At that time, an investor first appeared whose reputation was rather bad and who probably would not have received the money needed for the purchase from any bank.

Finally the brewery was sold to the brewery specialist Uwe Lauer.

Because of the protective shield proceedings under which the brewery was at that time, Lauer was only able to acquire the brewery; the property had to be sold separately.

The city had promised the new owner an alternative area on the outskirts of the city, where a completely new, modern brewery was to be built.

The previous plot of land of the brewery in the middle of the city was to be built on with apartments and thus re-used.

The brewery still had the right to use the property until 2023.

Mixed feelings with the mayor

But even these plans are now off the table. Because the land offered by the city was not suitable for the brewery's plans, the new owner now wants to modernize the brewery at the existing location. The planned residential construction on the site will therefore probably not work. The brewery wants to buy back the property from the investor and has already made him an offer. The new plans were presented to the city council on Wednesday evening in a closed session.

Mayor Patrick Koch (SPD) sees the whole development with mixed feelings. The city has made several land offers to the brewery in recent months. Initially, the brewery planned with around 5,000 square meters, later it demanded 11,000 square meters. Ultimately, those responsible for the brewery apparently realized that they could implement their plans most economically on the existing site. Brewery managing director Stefan Seibold announced that parts of the operation had to be outsourced on the smaller area provided by the city, which was not economical, on the larger area in the industrial area the brewery was under high voltage and there were water law problems because there was a water protection area there is located.

A modern brewing and cultural center

As Seibold further announced, the new brewery owner Uwe Lauer and his team have therefore decided to develop a modern brewing and cultural center with gastronomy on the existing site.

The next ten years are targeted as the period until full implementation.

In the past few months, a six-figure sum has already been invested in modernizing the existing brewery.

Now the listed buildings on the site are to be gradually restored and a cultural center with gastronomy is to be built there.

According to Seibold, "an energy-efficient brewery that combines tradition and modernity" is to be built on the rest of the site.

The repurchase offer has already been made to the owner of the property, the investor Daniel Hopp with the housing construction company Conceptplan. Whether he will accept it is still open.