A pub, a shop, a cinema – retro cool

Gunter Fetz, better known as Gunni, runs the Jöslar with Corinne Knapp. She manages the back office, he’s responsible for the programme. Florian Isenberg does the cooking. All in all, the venue is run by an all-round team of six.

A lot was happening on the main street of Andelsbuch, a one-street village at the heart of the Bregenzerwald region, when the business opened in 2013. Three buildings were simultaneously nominated for architectural awards: Gasthaus Jöslar won the Hypo-Bauherrenpreis (Property Developer Prize awarded by Hypo, a regional bank in Austria); Wälderversicherung the Holzbaupreis (Timber Construction Award) and Werkraum Bregenzerwald and its building by Peter Zumthor the Österreichischer Bauherrenpreis (Austrian Property Developer Prize). So it’s no surprise that the street is increasingly becoming an urban space where people go for a nice stroll and to see and be seen.

The jury’s view of the Jöslar: “A deceased landlord. A new tenant, who does almost nothing but gets lots right. The new-and-old Jöslar is a bar, meeting place, shop, cinema and event venue in a rural setting on a route that’s usually only used to get into or out of town. The minimal intervention where the refurbishment of the building is concerned demonstrates an almost somnambulistic confidence in how to work with the existing structure and its emotional legacy, for instance, by preserving the nicotine-stained ceilings and simply giving the façade a wash. The new, a type of gently cleaned old. One offer, (retro)cool. A question not of a different architecture but of an attitude.” (Quote from Arno Brandlhuber, 2013)

Architects Albert Moosbrugger and Christian Feldkircher have created a setting for great conversation and spontaneous get-togethers with the prominent bar and the directly accessible guest garden. The concept succeeded, with guests meandering between the bar, tables and landing surrounded by smoke and the setting sun’s red. Like the host, the furniture is mobile, the décor a pot-pourri of retro and cult. Right at the entrance in the old grocery, there’s a small flea market – Gunni’s hobby.

The old Jöslar, a Mittelflurhaus, a building in which the rooms are accessed from a central corridor, a design that’s typical of the Bregenzerwald, was already legendary. It has always been the place where the latest happenings in Schoppernau and Alberschwende were reported faster than in any of the print media. And no one ever remained unknown. Towards the end, there were probably still drinks and sandwiches – the so-called Mannerschnitte – for the more hungry. Guests are well served in terms of media and ‘magic’ at today’s inn, which now also boasts a wall-wide screen and deliciously filled sandwiches.

In culinary terms, the world at Jöslar revolves around souls. Not around the old local custom of dedicating bread to the deceased on All Saints’ Day, no, Jöslar is about warm souls – from all over the world. Corsican, Mediterranean, fiery, vegan or alpine, the 18 types of soul are always worth a visit. The crispy ciabatta is supplied by the bakery next door and the salads are meant to be far more than just garnish. New to the concept, but not yet in the oven, is the Sunday roast. Fans of culinary and filmic delights queue up for the Gaumenkino on the first Sunday of every month; the € 40.00 package comes with a cinema ticket and a three-course meal.

The Jöslar is simply culture, atmospherically a witty mix of return point, beer mat, wallpaper, liquor shelf and Monty Python. And why Jöslar? In a similar manner to how an air of trading licences issued by Empress Maria Theresa has attached itself to the building, the name Josef has – in the form of ‘Jöslar’ – also become associated with it.