A blazing people magnet

Vapiano Restaurant, next door to the Chocolate Museum Cologne, is using outdoor fireplaces from Rüegg, to make a connection with customers before they have even set foot in the restaurant. To create that emotional bond, they are counting on the fireplaces’ modern design along with the public being able to directly view the blazing log fire within the fireplace as they approach the building. The curved SCHOTT ROBAX® fire viewing panels make it all possible, providing an unobstructed panorama of the flaming elements from within.

Turning off gas burners permanently – and the reasons are not just environmental

Centrally located next to Cologne’s chocolate museum on the riverbanks of the Rhine River, Vapiano Restaurant has added a couple of outdoor attractions: two wood-burning outdoor hearths from Swiss design pioneers Rüegg – model: Surprise – woo hungry passers-by and surprised visitors as they head straight for wthe restaurant. Rüegg outdoor fireplaces are distinguished by the numerous SCHOTT ROBAX® fire viewing panels used to give a 360° panorama of the flames from within. And thanks to attachments made from robust NEXTREMA® glass-ceramic, those wanting to grill some food can do so as well. We had a few questions for Ralf Steppeler, the Head of Construction at Vapiano, when we recently met with him to learn all about the new outdoor highlights at the Cologne restaurant.

Whether it remains a pilot project in Cologne, or is eventually rolled out across Germany is a question Vapiano does not have an answer for at the moment. “They have generated a lot of interest and the feedback from customers has been absolutely positive,” notes Steppeler. “But honestly, for Vapiano, the idea of having outdoor wood-burning fireplaces is not only a concept to consider for the winter months. We believe that there is a great deal of potential for the hotter months as well, when having a cozy fire during mild summer evenings can be attractive to customers and entice them to linger a little longer with us.”