In the late 19th century, the expansion of the town on the so-called Kappesfeld was decided. In the years that followed, residential buildings were built here, as well as the Agnes Church and of course: today's Wirtshaus Spitz! In fact, it was the first inn in the newly created district and is therefore also the oldest brewhouse here. Here we tell you a little about the history of the popular restaurant and its young inn-keeper Jan!
The history of the Spitz
According to the chronicle, the inn was purchased in 1902 by Katharina and Peter Spitz, after whom the house is still named today. At that time, it was not just a restaurant, but also a brewery and distillery. During the Second World War, the building was razed to the ground by an air raid on April 20, 1943, but was quickly rebuilt as a restaurant after the war. The kitchen is now located where the stills once stood, the granary was once located in the current storage rooms, and the kitchen was once on the upper floor, where there are now apartments. The house itself still belongs to the Spitz family, the descendants of Katharina and Peter, but the restaurant is leased.
Jan as the youngest host
Let's skip the various changes of tenants of the inn and go straight to the current landlord. Jan took over the Spitz on May 1, 2021 as the youngest inn-keeper in Cologne at the time - at just 18 years old! He was actually still in the middle of his training as a media designer, but the Spitz didn't give him any time to finish his training. But how did Jan get there?
To put it briefly, Jan's family has a strong background in the restaurant business. If you look at the Jansen family tree, you will find countless hosts. The innkeeper DNA has definitely prevailed. His great-great-grandfather was a master brewer, but he didn't have his own brewery. His great-grandfather had a pub, as did his aunt and uncle, and eventually Jan's parents also ended up in the restaurant business. The family ran well-known inns such as the Reissdorf am Hahnentor, the Kleine Glocke and the Gertrudenhof. And so one day Jan overheard the beer distributor recommending the Spitz inn to his parents.
The dream of owning your own brewery
Jan had always dreamed of running a pub or even a brewery in Cologne. His dream was now within reach. Jan had quickly convinced his parents and the necessary support was there. And so, shortly after the second lockdown, he quietly started selling from a window. At first, his mum and dad were busy in the kitchen, conjuring up typically delicious home-cooked food until business really took off. It was time for a chef. He was quickly found, too: Uwe Bolzen, who once ran the house himself for five years and with whom I had the honour of working together in the Bierhaus am Rhein, is now cooking his way into the hearts of the guests at Wirtshaus Spitz. They are particularly proud of the fact that everything is fresh and, above all, homemade, from the side dishes to the sauces!
The parents are now more likely to be found in their hometown of Düren, where they have taken over another restaurant in the Düren sports center . Even though I haven't been there myself, I believe Jan when he tells me that it's also worth a visit. Perhaps it's a good idea, especially in the summer, to pay a visit to the spacious beer garden with space for 150-200 people if you want to get out of Cologne? We would of course be very grateful for reports of your experiences!
Enthusiastic dancer at the Cologne Carnival
And even though the family comes from the Gürzenich district of Düren, the connection to Cologne is very close. Jan has been rooted in the Cologne carnival since childhood. He danced in the Ehrengarde in the children's and youth dance group and is still a passive member. Jan is a fan of guard dancing and has also taken part in tournaments and championships. He now dances actively with the Fidele Sandhasen dance corps, which belongs to the first traditional Cologne society "Die Grosse von 1823" . So it's no wonder that the Spitz pub also has its own pub session!
Conclusion
A visit to Spitz is worth it! And when you start talking to Jan, you can quickly see how enthusiastic he is. He doesn't regret giving up his training one bit, he's passionate about the restaurant business!
Curious? Then pay Jan a visit! By the way: We are currently planning a very special brewery tour, during which we will also visit the Wirtshaus Spitz. Until then, you can join us on our "normal" brewery tours in Cologne's old town. Feel free to browse our blog and read more about other traditional pubs and breweries!
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