Sale of Gasthof Serkowitz failed for the time being

"The pitcher goes to the water until it breaks" - City of Radebeul cancels the operator of the Serkowitz inn

Following the surprising failure of the sale of the Serkowitz Inn to Mr Wilhelm Ruprecht Frieling, which was approved by the city council on 18 October 2023 with the aim of establishing a cultural centre with the "Lügenmuseum" as its anchor, the city now feels compelled to exercise its right of termination.

Background:

Since 2012, the city of Radebeul has given the Museum of Lies, with Mr Reinhard Zabka as operator, temporary shelter for its exhibits in the former Gasthof Serkowitz. In doing so, it has put its own economic interests on the back burner.

With the decision to sell to Mr Frieling, a suitable investor finally seemed to have been found, as he has proven time and again in his decades of work that art and culture do not have to be at odds with profitability. The former Serkowitz Inn could therefore have been turned into a cultural centre with the "Lügenmuseum" as an anchor for a solid future. Both Mr Frieling and the city were committed to pushing ahead with the realisation after the decision to sell. A notary appointment had already been fixed.

Unfortunately, Mr Frieling was ultimately forced to withdraw from the purchase for reasons relating to the operator of the Museum of Lies. "The operator has so far been unwilling to explore new avenues together with partners. For this reason, an investment without a clear content perspective does not seem to make much sense at present." (Source: Prinz Rupi Kulturstiftung press release dated 17/05/2024)

This is a bitter disappointment, not least for the many years of patience and support from the city, which has put its own economic interests to one side. A permanent retention of the property with its current use was not feasible for the city of Radebeul as owner from the outset and will also not be feasible in the future. The city is therefore now forced to terminate the lease. The property will subsequently be put out to tender again, free of encumbrances.

Mayor Wendsche emphasised: " With his uncooperative behaviour, Mr Zabka has disappointed all those - not just the city - who have been working for years to ensure an economically viable future for the Lügenmuseum. In view of this, it is no longer reasonable for the town of Radebeul to put its own economic interests on the back burner. In the interests of the long-term preservation of the building, there is unfortunately no alternative but to terminate the lease. The jug goes to the water until it breaks."

History:

• The city of Radebeul has owned the property since 2008. From the outset, the aim of the acquisition was to temporarily secure ownership.
• Mr Reinhard Zabka has been a tenant of the property since 2012. The purpose of the lease includes the storage of museum artefacts and the possibility of preparing the space on the ground floor as a temporary museum and making it accessible to the public.
• The city has repeatedly carried out security measures on the property.
• The city cancelled a sales process initiated in 2012/13 because the bids received envisaged residential use of the property.
• In the period that followed, the city repeatedly endeavoured to preserve the property on the premise that the Lügenmuseum would continue to operate.
• A building condition report from 2020 calculated total gross costs of around EUR 3.5 million for the necessary comprehensive refurbishment. A market value appraisal from 2021 shows a market value of EUR 310,000 for the entire property, which results from the land value alone.
• The city therefore decided to sell the property in 2022, but expressly with the priority of giving the Lügenmuseum a future.
• Mr Frieling submitted a bid in this regard at the minimum bid of EUR 310 thousand. He planned to continue using the inn "as part of a foundation as a centre for independent artists and art, and to provide a permanent home for the Museum of Lies currently located there".
• On 18 October 2023 (SR 38/23-19/24), a majority of the city council decided to sell the property to Mr Frieling on this basis.
• In the meantime, Mr Frieling has founded the "Prinz Rupi Kulturstiftung" (Prince Rupi Cultural Foundation) specifically for this acquisition purpose. This was recognised as having legal capacity by the foundation authorities of the Free State of Saxony on 23 February 2024. The corresponding amendment to the sale resolution was already in the process of being finalised by the city council when the city received notification of the potential buyer's withdrawal.