Sausalitos

Sausalitos was established in Germany by Gunilla and Thomas Hirschberger. Its name was taken from Sausalito, California, and the founders used that association as the basis for a restaurant concept shaped by Californian lifestyle imagery and Mexican- and American-influenced food. Rather than operating solely as a conventional restaurant, Sausalitos developed venues that combine a bar, bistro, restaurant, and terrace. The format supports daytime and evening dining, drinks, social gatherings, and a more entertainment-oriented hospitality experience. The food offer developed around dishes such as burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, burgers, and tapas. Cocktails form a central part of the concept, with many drinks drawing on or resembling tiki cocktails. The resulting proposition is a casual restaurant-and-bar hybrid: food is broad and familiar, while the drinks program and interior presentation emphasize leisure and social atmosphere. The chain also introduced an app with digital-ordering functionality, extending the brand beyond its physical locations. Sausalitos expanded across Germany during the 2010s. At the start of 2017, the network contained 37 locations. By 2019, it had reached 43, accompanied by an ambition to reach additional German cities of more than 100,000 inhabitants. In 2014, the Hirschbergers sold the company to Ergon Capital, a private-equity investor that later became known as Apheon. The transaction placed the expanding restaurant chain under institutional ownership, although the available material does not provide detailed information about the post-transaction corporate structure or financial performance. The chain subsequently faced significant financial pressure connected with the COVID-19 period. Several companies belonging to the relevant group entered insolvency proceedings after a decline that had begun during the pandemic. Anton Dürrbeck and Michael Werner filed the proceedings, and Michael Schuster of Jaffé Rechtsanwälte Insolvenzverwalter was appointed provisional insolvency administrator. The immediate approach described in the available material was operational continuity: restaurants were to remain open while potential new investors were sought. The references do not establish whether the proceedings were later completed, whether ownership changed again, or whether all locations continued operating. As of March 2025, the cited Wikipedia material reported 43 Sausalitos locations in 33 German cities. The chain therefore remained documented as a substantial Germany-focused restaurant network, but its ultimate corporate status and ownership require confirmation from current company or insolvency records. Its enduring identity rests on the combination of Californian branding, Mexican- and American-influenced casual food, cocktails, and a multi-zone venue designed for both dining and social nightlife.

• 2025

  43 locations reported in 33 German cities

  [1]Sausalitosen.wikipedia.org

  As of March 2025, the cited reference reported 43 operating locations across 33 cities in Germany.

• 2019

  Network reaches 43 locations

  [1]Sausalitosen.wikipedia.org

  Two years after the 2017 count, the chain had expanded to 43 German locations and continued to target larger cities.

• 2017

  German network reaches 37 locations

  [1]Sausalitosen.wikipedia.org

  At the beginning of 2017, Sausalitos operated 37 locations in Germany.

• 2014

  Founders sell Sausalitos to Ergon Capital

  [1]Sausalitosen.wikipedia.org

  The Hirschbergers sell the company to Ergon Capital, a private-equity investment company now known as Apheon.

• Sausalitos is founded in Germany

  [1]Sausalitosen.wikipedia.org

  Gunilla and Thomas Hirschberger establish the restaurant chain and name it after Sausalito, California.

• Group companies enter insolvency proceedings

  [1]Sausalitosen.wikipedia.org

  After pandemic-era financial decline, insolvency proceedings were filed for several companies in the group, with a provisional administrator appointed and restaurants intended to remain open during an investor search.

A casual, social German restaurant-and-bar chain combining Californian lifestyle cues, Mexican- and American-influenced food, cocktails, and a leisure-oriented venue format.

• Restaurant services

  Casual dining restaurants

  Sausalitos venues combine a restaurant, bistro, bar, and terrace in one format. The spaces are designed for informal meals, group occasions, drinks, and evening socializing, with interiors and branding influenced by a relaxed Californian lifestyle.

• Food menu

  Mexican- and American-influenced food

  The menu includes burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, burgers, and tapas. The assortment reflects the chain's fusion approach, combining Mexican culinary references with Californian and broader American casual-dining influences rather than adhering to a narrowly traditional cuisine.

• Beverages

  Cocktails

  Cocktails are a major part of the Sausalitos proposition. Many drinks are tiki-style or share characteristics with tiki cocktails, reinforcing the brand's leisure-oriented bar identity and helping distinguish the chain from a standard food-led restaurant.

• Digital service

  Sausalitos app

  The brand has offered an app with digital-ordering functionality and other customer-facing features. The available reference material does not specify the full feature set, launch date, or current availability.

• 2014

  Sale of Sausalitos to Ergon CapitalM&A

  Background

  The founders transferred ownership of the restaurant chain during its expansion period.

  Action taken

  Gunilla and Thomas Hirschberger sold Sausalitos to Ergon Capital, subsequently known as Apheon.

  Aftermath

  The chain continued expanding in Germany, reaching 37 locations at the beginning of 2017 and 43 two years later.

  Source

• Maintain restaurant operations during insolvency and seek investorsStrategy

  Background

  Several group companies faced insolvency following financial deterioration that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Action taken

  The provisional insolvency administration sought to keep the restaurants operating while looking for new investors.

  Aftermath

  The available sources do not confirm the final outcome of the proceedings or the subsequent ownership structure.

  Source

1. 1Sausalitosen.wikipedia.org