The former Werderau restaurant at Volckamerstraße 19 has a new owner. The real estate company wbg Nürnberg GmbH has sold the historic building to an experienced family of restaurateurs. The family plans to renovate the building and the historic restaurant and, in addition to its use as a restaurant, to build apartments—for example, for staff. This opens up new prospects for the building, which has stood vacant for several years.
The former restaurant is closely tied to the history of Werderau. The building was constructed in 1912 according to plans by the Nuremberg architect Ludwig Ruff and, along with the adjacent historic bowling alley, is part of the listed Gartenstadt Werderau complex. wbg acquired the property in 2007 along with other residential and commercial properties in Werderau.
Since the restaurant closed, the goal has been to find a long-term, sustainable use for the building—which was in need of renovation—that does justice to its historic character. At the same time, there has been a recurring desire in the neighborhood for dining options and a place for people to gather. With this sale, there is now an opportunity to combine both.
“It was important to us to find a vision for this special building that fits with Werderau and the history of the house. The planned resumption of restaurant operations is therefore very welcome news for us and the neighborhood. It is now up to the new owner to guide the building toward a new future with great dedication and in compliance with historic preservation regulations,” explains Ralf Schekira, Managing Director of wbg Nürnberg.
Initial preparatory work in the building is already underway. The next step will be to finalize the plans and apply for the necessary permits. The remaining timeline depends largely on the progress of these procedures as well as the scope of the required renovation work. As things stand today, the new owners are aiming for an opening at the end of 2027.
The sale also marks the end of a lengthy process to find a suitable new use for the property. In recent years, wbg had explored various options for the historic building, which was in dire need of renovation. With the new owners’ plans, there is now hope that the historic restaurant will once again become a vibrant gathering place in the Werderau neighborhood.
