STRAELEN. Everything comes to an end at some point, even a cult pub like the Tömpke. Even though the establishment has been closed for a long time, the last remnant of the good old days will soon disappear along with the building, to make way for a new future: the „Markt Höfe“, a modern residential and commercial complex. What nevertheless remains are the many memories of numerous lovely hours in the Tömpke. In this spirit, those interested were now able to secure numerous keepsakes. The company Tecklenburg, responsible for the new project, had invited people to the farewell event „Bye Tömpke… welcome Markt Höfe“.
Old instruments, street signs, advertising boards, jugs, photos, pictures and much more awaited the visitors in front of the old pub on the Markt. Anyone who wanted could secure a keepsake and leave a donation for the flood victims in the process – entirely in the spirit of community that the Tömpke also symbolised as a meeting place for all of Straelen.
„We wanted to give people the opportunity to say goodbye,“ explains Sandra von Lobenstein, Head of Sales and Marketing at Tecklenburg. Many people were wistful, but others were also glad that the old building was going. „The Tömpke was an institution. That it is not simply torn down, but that memories are evoked one more time, I think is only right,“ emphasises Hermann Tecklenburg, managing partner. How many people share this view is also shown by the turnout of the people of Straelen.
Many memories
Here and there you can still hear how some call it a „dive“ or „robbers' den“, but the affectionate tone reveals the charm that the atmosphere always exuded. Even in its final days. The visitors of the farewell event were happy to share their experiences here. „A woman just took an old zither with her. Her father-in-law owned it and played it himself. After 50 years she collected it again here, that was really lovely,“ says von Lobenstein. Gerd Paaßen, too, former owner of the Tömpke, has his special memories – too many to list them all. But he does have one example: the visit of the German rock musician Klaus Lage. „His bassist regularly played live at our place, with artists from all over the world. Handmade music, that was wonderful. Admission was free and the place was of course packed to the rafters. That was always a lot of fun!“
Towards the end, he stands once more in his old pub, with mixed feelings. From 1980 onwards he had run it for 18 years, before selling it for „immorally much money“, as he recounts with a laugh. Back then he was not allowed to take anything with him. „The pub was bought just as it was.“ Now he was able to make up for that. He secured an „optimist and a pessimist“, a relief depiction on a piece of oak board that his father-in-law had made many decades ago.
A fresh start
Over the years, new landlords eventually moved into the Tömpke for a few years, but for some years now the building has stood empty. Now there is a new beginning. „I am glad that something nice and new can now be created here,“ says Paaßen. As for the 17 new condominiums of „Markt Höfe“, 13 have already been sold or reserved. According to von Lobenstein, not only the central location on the Markt is a big plus, but also the accessibility. „In the countryside, something like this is in demand.“ The commercial premises are to be occupied by restaurateurs again. Talks are currently underway for this. Construction is planned to begin in October, with completion for June 2023.
Source: Niederrhein Nachrichten Author: Thomas Langer
