Two skips of trash, mould, and unpaid rent

After the farewell party at the Rosengarten restaurant in Holzhäusern, the owners have now given their perspective on the events. Outstanding debts, a "deplorable state" at the handover, and dashed expectations characterise their conclusion regarding the end of the lease with the former host (Wirt) Mike Schwarz.
 

A month ago, restaurateur Mike Schwarz bid farewell to his beloved "Rosengarten" in Holzhäusern at a final festive evening (Uustrinkete). Just a few months earlier, he had learned from the owners, the Werder brothers, that the property was being sold – only a year after he had taken over the restaurant. He told the Zuger Zeitung newspaper at the time, that he didn't know the reason for the sale. But the owners now want to clarify the situation, and have described their experiences during their time together. "Honestly, I didn't think it would end like this after so much support," says Matthias Werder.

According to the owners, some of the key points that Mike Schwarz mentioned to the Zuger Zeitung newspaper in November were presented "incompletely or only from one-side."

One year of tenancy – without any rent payments
The Werder brothers handed over the property to Mike Schwarz about a year ago, fully cleaned and with all the necessary inventory. But no rent was then paid for either the restaurant or the innkeeper's apartment on the top floor during the entire tenancy. The hoped-for turnaround in the business failed to materialise, resulting in rent arrears of over CHF 60,000 accruing since October 2024.

"Had Mr. Schwarz handed over the restaurant and the apartment in proper condition, we would have waived the entire rent claim," said Matthias Werder. According to Swiss contract law, the owners would have been entitled to terminate the tenancy after a set deadline due to the lack of rent payments. Nevertheless, they gave him another chance. Despite their difficult circumstances, the owners had supported the business – for example, with advertising through the influencer "The Intern," advertisements with local clubs, musical performances, and by paying the cook and kitchen assistant.

The "Rosengarten" was handed over to a new owner on 1st December.     Photo: Jakob Ineichen
This is how the owners found the situation at the Rosengarten.
It appears the work surfaces hadn't been cleaned.
Mould had formed in the refrigerators and cold storage rooms.
A gardener has had to be called in to restore the garden to a presentable condition. 
Items that were apparently no longer usable were just left behind          
Items were also simply left behind in the innkeeper's apartment.       Photos: supplied by landlord
 

As the property is being sold due to the dissolution of the inheritance community (Erbengemeinschaft) and the tenant is unable to settle his debts, the lease was terminated on the 30th November. The handover of the keys was scheduled for 1st December, but this did not go as expected: the landlords only found a bowl of keys on the table; Mike Schwarz could not be reached by phone.

The condition of the premises also caused great disappointment. Trash was lying around, the furniture was dirty, and mould had formed in the refrigerators and cold storage rooms. "We filled two skips, with twelve cubic metres of trash each. A gardener had to be called in to restore the outdoor area, and a cleaning company now needs four days with a team to clean everything," explained Matthias Werder.

Mike Schwarz left behind items in the premises that were apparently beyond repair. "It took six of us to dispose of all the bulky waste," said the landlord.

Disappointment over the conclusion
The owners emphasised their disappointment with the abrupt and chaotic end. "After all our efforts, our support, and the trust we placed in this concept, we had hoped for a more dignified and respectful conclusion." The brothers now hope for transparency, fairness, and that all involved can learn from the experiences of the past year.

The new owner has now taken over the Rosengarten property. " It’s still undecided what will become of it. We’ve received no more information on this," said Matthias Werder.
Mike Schwarz was unavailable for comment.