Milk stalls will not be abolished!

Conversation with Göran Sell, Managing Director of Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH

The operators of the milk stalls announced the end of the milk stalls for 8 with an “obituary notice” in the daily press on October 2020th. Borkumerleben took this as an opportunity to have a conversation with Göran Sell, the managing director of Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH (NBG), about the current status of “milk stalls”.

Borkumerleben: Mr. Sell, how did you find this type of communication? Göran Sell: As in all other cases, questions about leases can only be clarified by tenants and landlords through direct contact. So the ad was not helpful. Among other things, the ad says, “after a tough, unequal and unfair fight with the NBG management” – was that so? Sell: From our side it was never about a fight. On the contrary, at the beginning of 2018 - on our own initiative - we set out on a journey with the milk stall operators, including numerous discussions and even a workshop to shape the future together. The fact that a landlord sits down so intensively with his tenants is unparalleled. This is unique in the history of the NBG. Therefore, a counter question: Did the milk stall operators comment or cast doubt on the publication in the Borkum-Aktuell, which you also published, meaning the April 2019 issue? All the facts are already listed there without any polemics. Answer Borkumerleben: No, there were no comments regarding this from the milk stall operators. Last spring there was a request for a report/interview, but this request was withdrawn at short notice due to pending proceedings.

Do you consider communication with the operators to have failed? Sell: That doesn't depend on me alone. All key decisions in this process were a concept proposal from Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH for new milk stalls, which includes a uniform approval process but leaves room for individual design. (See above) Graphics: Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH and are decided by the supervisory board of the NBG. The communication published by the CDU/SPD and Alliance90/The Greens states the following about future communication: Quote: “Based on this action, further discussions will not only become significantly more difficult, but must even be viewed as over. It would be much more important to enter into dialogue again and to launch the new generation “Milchbude Borkum” “TOGETHER”. Quotes end.

Is it the case, as it says in the aforementioned “obituary notice”, that the previous operators or their companies are no longer wanted or will the type of communication have an influence on the future competition process? Can the current operators be given preference in the legally required new tender?

Sell: First of all, it should be noted that the current lease agreements with the milk stall operators have not been terminated by the NBG, but will expire at the end of next year. The fact that this is the case is based on agreements reached mutually between the milk stall operators and the NBG. This means that new lease agreements must now be concluded. The fact that the new lease contracts will be awarded as part of a competitive process follows both legal requirements and the conviction of the supervisory board and management of NBG. The milk stalls are therefore treated in the same way as the company's other gastronomic leased properties. So it has nothing to do with the fact that the previous operators of the milk stalls or their businesses are no longer wanted. In the competition process - as has already been stated in several places - the communication of Borkum tradition will be a decision-relevant criterion, among other things. This automatically results in a preference for all those who can convey this tradition authentically. In my opinion, the current milk stall operators in particular have very good chances here. However, you also have to use them.

Would it be realistic for the milk stall operators to operate their own approval process, for example to ensure operations beyond 2020? Sell: The milk stalls are located in an area that must generally be kept free of any development. The fact that they are still allowed to stand there is because the NBG runs a public seaside resort on the beaches for the city of Borkum and the milk stalls serve to provide the appropriate beach supplies. It is therefore unrealistic that the milk stall operators themselves - separate from this public seaside resort - can, as private individuals, obtain a building permit for the stalls, not for 2021 and not for subsequent years.

The milk stall operators have announced that they can no longer use their equipment, for example kitchen appliances, in the new stalls, is that so? Sell: The devices can continue to be used. Just like the planned stalls as a whole, the dimensions of their kitchens largely correspond to the previous milk stalls.? People always talk about “uniform stalls”. Is that so? Will all milk stalls look the same? Sell: For comparison, let's first look at some hotels on Jann-Berg-haus-Straße. Each has its own design, but they all follow the style of spa architecture. It will be the same with the new milk stalls. Everyone is different, but at the same time follows a style. This is derived from the historic milk stall typical of Borkum. In addition, every tenant has the opportunity to give their booth their own individual flair by designing the outside and inside areas as well as the advertising systems, etc. Rental sums are constantly being put forward that we do not want to communicate here. Have new lease amounts already been set?

Sell: No, lease sums are not in question. As with all new lease agreements with the NBG, the lease will consist of a ground lease and a sales lease.

What's next? Sell: We have now found a very good form of cooperation in the process with the district and the NLWKN. Everyone is pulling together and everyone, including the additional authorities involved, is willing to lead the Borkum milk stall tradition into the future. We were also able to get the approval, which expired in 2019, extended again until the end of 2020.

Borkumerleben:One sentence at the end? Sell: The attractiveness of the promenade was rated and appreciated very positively by our guests. I'm sure it will be the same with the new milk stalls in the immediate vicinity. Providing good care for our beach guests as an important part of the Borkum seaside resort is a matter close to our hearts. We will therefore continue to work with all our might to ensure that this supply is ensured in the future by creating legally secure, approved milk stalls.