For many customers it is their second living room: the Hamburg restaurant “Leon” in St. Georg. Italian cuisine has been served here at low prices for lunch and dinner for 20 years. This is now over. The landlord has given notice to the innkeeper. A world collapses for him. And his guests take to the streets.

The letter came five months ago as if out of the blue: “In the name and with the authority of the community of heirs, we are terminating the existing commercial rental agreement for the commercial premises at Koppel 1, 20099 Hamburg, basement on the left, in due time on March 31, 2026,” says the letter written by the property management.

Kicked out after 20 years: Landlord cancels traditional restaurant in St. Georg

When restaurant owner Jhalman Kumar read these words, he broke down: “It took the rug out from under me. I just cried,” says the 68-year-old. Everything he had built up throughout his life collapsed like a house of cards.

In 1982 he came to Hamburg from the Indian Punjab, worked as a kitchen assistant and trained as a chef in an Italian restaurant.

One of Punjab’s sons is disabled and needs care.

Then came his big opportunity: taking over a former pub at Koppel 1 in St. Georg, which he converted into his own restaurant. Kumar named his restaurant “Leon”, after the Greek word for lion.

The king of the animals, a symbol of strength and courage, was supposed to give him strength on his rocky path in a foreign country, which was accompanied by blows of fate. One of his sons is disabled and needs care.

“There were no difficulties or problems at all until the letter”

Kumar doesn’t know the reasons for the termination after such a long time. Several attempts to contact the landlord were unsuccessful or blocked. A MOPO request also remained unanswered.

“There was no difficulty or problem at all until the letter,” says Kumar. He always paid the rent on time and would have accepted a rent increase if it had been requested. But taking action against the termination made no sense, even from Kumar’s lawyer’s point of view. The deadlines applicable to a commercial rental agreement were adhered to.

Regular guests organize protest with “solidarity pizza eating”

The regular guests of the “Leon”, which for years included celebrities such as the actor Rolf Becker and local politicians, are outraged. They collected signatures and launched a protest. The motto: “Save the Restaurant Leon!”

On Thursday, March 12th, there will be a rally on the street in front of the “Leon” from 6 p.m. to demand the preservation of the restaurant and better tenant protection for small businesses. A “solidarity pizza meal” is also planned.

“An important part of the lives of many people in the district”

In a leaflet, the initiators criticize the displacement from St. Georg and the rising rents in the district. The owner of the restaurant is assumed to be “interested in profit”. The “Leon” is “another social anchor that is falling victim to the gentrification of St. Georg.”

The “Leon” is not just any restaurant, but an important meeting place. “It is an important part of the lives of many people in the district,” said supporters.

Jhalman Kumar is touched by the support. He wants to take care of his family now. He is worried about the small pension that now awaits him. “But at my age I can’t get a job anywhere anymore.” He has no strength to start over somewhere else. “I don’t see a future anymore. The termination has ruined my life.”