Branko Mazalica is celebrating an anniversary this year. Munich’s longest-serving landlord has been running Bavaria for 40 years. And he’s already making plans for the coming years.
Munich – When Branko Mazalica talks about his life, two things quickly become clear: The 81-year-old has his heart in the right place – and somehow the joke on his neck. His eyes light up when he talks about Bavaria. That quaint Bavarian inn on Bayerstraße that looks back on a long history. Also in Mazalica’s life. He has lived above the inn for 50 years. “At first I was just a guest. But also here every day. ”When the tenant, a Yugoslav, leaves, Branko Mazalica’s moment has come …
Munich’s longest-serving landlord took over the restaurant in 1981, ran it with a lot of passion for 40 years and still stood behind the bar every day. “Even if we are now unfortunately only doing delivery service. What am I supposed to be up in the apartment all the time? ”Asks the native of Zagreb. Stop? To retire? Back to Croatia*? “No,” he says, laughing and his eyes twinkling. “I’ll stay there. As long as the Lord God lets me. “
Munich’s longest-serving host: the anniversary party should be rescheduled
The fact that a landlord has been running a restaurant for so long – the Augustiner Brewery is also delighted. “That happens very rarely,” explains board member Martin Leibhard. He recently stopped by the Bavaria with a small brewery delegation – with a chic certificate and a gift basket in his luggage. “It’s a shame that we can’t have a big party,” says Leibhard, speaking from the heart of his host. The restaurateur remembers the restaurateur sadly at the 30th anniversary. “With the 35 too.”
The party, which has now been canceled, should definitely be rescheduled. That is also clear for Leibhard. And: Nobody wants to wait until the 50 years are full. Not even Mazalica’s wife Durda, who is always by his side. This year the two have been married for 59 years. Without her, he is sure, he would not be what he is today. The Croatian has always dreamed of a life with her and as an innkeeper.
When he moved from Zagreb to 1961 Germany* came, he first went to Dortmund. “I worked as a mechanical fitter.” And with this twinkle in my eyes adds: “But I’ve always been a man who wanted to make money.”
Munich’s longest-serving innkeeper: The first contact with the catering industry was a nightspot
That is why there was first contact with gastronomy during his time in Karlsruhe. Or rather, with a nightspot. But a friend did that for him. “I was married and had a daughter. That was rather difficult, ”he says a little bit covered in this episode.
In 1971, when the family came to Munich *, the money was practically on the street because of the upcoming Olympic Games. There was a lot of work and a lot of assignments. Mazalica’s good contacts in the construction industry also benefit him when he makes his lifelong dream come true and takes over Bavaria. At that time he tore out the old facility and redesigned it.
He also has big plans for the time after the pandemic *. “Everything should be classier,” he says. The Bavaria is not particularly big. “You can’t get rich here. But lead a wonderful life, ”he says again with a smile. “And that’s enough for me.” (Nadja Hoffmann) * tz.de and merkur.de are offers from IPPEN.MEDIA
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