“What stories could these walls tell?” I wonder, gazing at the Ehemaliges Gasthaus Goldener Löwe. This former inn in Chemnitz whispers tales of bustling gatherings and forgotten celebrations. Imagine Oberrabenstein’s residents seeking recreation here. It was a prime destination alongside Pelzmühle and Totenstein.
Let’s step back in time. The Gasthaus Goldener Löwe wasn’t always called that. It began as the Gädfnerschänke. Then in 1882, it transformed into the Goldener Löwe we see before us. It boasted a grand ballroom, a cozy Kutscherstube, a welcoming Gaststube and a Biergarten. The Verein Volkshaus für Rabenstein und Umgegend eGmbH bought the Gasthof in 1928.
But change was on the horizon. By 1934, the Genossenschaft dissolved. A forced auction followed. A private individual acquired the Volkshaus. Interestingly, the Unterkunftshaus built as a temporary structure in 1925/26 still stands today.
After 1948, the Gasthof transitioned into SED property. From 1953, it continued as the HO Gaststätte “Goldener Löwe”. The Goldener Löwe saw a shift after the Wende. It mainly hosted promotional sales events. The once-popular dances ceased. Despite residents’ protests, the music faded.
The ballroom with its stage closed in the mid-90s. The Gaststätte and Bräustübel remained open until 2002. Even the Biergarten, beautiful as it was, saw only sporadic use during summer months until about 2005. Today, the Ehemaliges Gasthaus Goldener Löwe stands in Leerstand. It waits for a new chapter.
There was a time when the Anwohner feared Abrissbagger for the 1882 building. The last big Saal is here. In 2016, a company from Siegmar failed with its demolition plans. They intended to build 16 houses there.
The plans are not off the table. In July there was a new application. There is a new owner. Apparently, the new owner plans a partial demolition. The old Gasthof Goldener Löwe in Oberrabenstein remains a Schandfleck in Chemnitz.
For years, the building from 1882 has been decaying. Residents had observed illegal activities. They also claimed that the police had been there several times. But city and police rejected this.
The city regularly monitors the building. The premises is secured. There is no application for demolition. It seems a battle against windmills. The Goldener Löwe may rise again. It may be lost forever.