„Gdańska“ in Oberhausen

Over 20 years ago Maria and Czesław Golebiewski (in Polish, Maria Gołębiewska, Czesław Gołąbiewski, Maria and Czesław Gołębiewscy) and their three children moved from Poland to Germany. Whilst they were getting used to their new life here they got the idea to do something for their fellow countrymen: to open a place where people could meet up, chat and exchange opinions. Friends knew there were some cheap places to rent in Oberhausen; and the upshot was that they opened a shop called “Slawe”. Here their customers could purchase everything from food to gift articles with a Slavic origin,. “All in all everything was fine, but my husband felt a bit restricted“, repeats Maria Golebiewski every time she talks about the start of her independent career.

 

On the road to growth
 

Because of his cultural “hyperactivity”, as Maria calls her husband’s creative drive, Czesław Golebiewski set off in search of somewhere new and was very much taken with some empty premises on the old marketplace in Oberhausen. “We’ll take that! We’re going to open a Polish bar!”. This rang in the birth of “Gdańska” – meaning “from Danzig”: and it didn’t take long to think of the name since the Golebiewskis came from a place near the city on the Baltic. The bar quickly became popular, not only amongst their fellow countrymen. After its opening on 1st April 2000 it increasingly became a regular haunt for Germans until in the end it was simply too small. Hence it was more than a welcome occasion when a neighbouring chemist, and later a hairdresser, moved out next door. Now there were no more hurdles to expansion. The Golebiewskis proceeded to convert the place with their own hands. Every spare cent was invested.

 

A variety of food and fun
 

Anyone who thinks that the people in “Gdańska” only serve up typical Polish fare, is making a mistake. It goes without saying that pierogi, bigos and krakauer sausages are all on the menu. But hungry eaters also have a choice between a variety of good solid German dishes: stuffed cabbage, beef steak and chips, or fried trout. Every Sunday they can also lip their licks over the huge buffet brunch. But food is only one of the ingredients used to describe what goes on in “Gdańska”. There are also plenty of cultural and social events in the restaurant, and also on the square outside during the summer: things like a Jazz carousel, blues concerts, theatre shows and a “guitarrissimo” (on 1st May each year all interested guitarists are invited to get together on the old marketplace and play “Hey Joe” by Jimmy Hendrix). A Gdańska Theatre and a Gdańska cinema are also part of the colourful variety of events that are close to the hearts of the owners.

If a musician has played deep into the night or the last guests have missed their train they can be sure of a comfortable room in the “Hotelik-Gdańska”. A large format open-air gallery has been adorning the backyard of “Gdańska’s” backyard since 2016. Indeed the project is being extended by more murals in 2017 in order to offer a space for the “Hof-Theater-Gdańska”.

 

Legendary concerts and events
 

Some of the countless concerts and events in “Gdańska” have become legendary. These include the appearance of the celebrated Polish Jazz saxophonist, Zbigniew Namysłowski, which helped to turn the restaurant into an exciting cultural centre. Naturally the place is not simply restricted to Polish culture; its international programme features everything from music, theatre, street theatre and films, to sport.

 

A very personal concept
 

After all these years “Gdańska” is now an integral part of the Golebiewski family, even more so since Maria gave up her job as a teacher to devote herself entirely to the restaurant. The couple not only run “Gdańska”, they live it. Indeed they are sorely missed on the rare occasions when they are absent. To all extents and purposes the original small barroom is open at all times, for no guests should be left standing in front of a closed door. When questioned on how to define what “Gdańska” really is – is it a cultural centre with food and drink, or an eating house with a programme of culture? – the two can only smile and leave the answer to their guests. The most precise answer, they think, to what “Gdańska” is all about can be found in their guestbook: “Incredible! I came here as a guest and left as a friend!”.

 

Gołąbki and friends

Maria and Czesław Gołębiewscy and friends, June 2017

 

For more inforation: http://www.gdanska.de