Iconic coffee house owner passes away
To reach one hundred years of age is nothing to be sniffed at – and the life of Leopold Hawelka was certainly a life less ordinary. He has recently passed away, but the legacy he leaves behind is notable.
Leopold began running his coffee business in 1938 and Café Hawelka became well-known throughout the city of Vienna. This is no mean feat – there were around 1,900 cafes to compete with in the capital city – but Café Hawelka is said to have made its mark. Those who visited the café were numerous – from tourists, locals and royalty to celebrities such as Andy Warhol and Arthur Miller.
It is said that the character of the place contributed to its fame. Waiters sporting tuxedos and wooden panelling which harks back to the post war period, make the atmosphere of the café different from other refurbished café destinations. In true ‘impoverished artist’ style, there are also various paintings on the wall which were paid in lieu for a good cup of coffee in the 1940s.
Leopold’s father was a shoemaker and he first launched a coffee shop in 1938, just before he was called to the army and had to promptly shut it down again. However, returning to the city, he opened it once more in 1945. Apparently, the locals were immediately attracted to the café – not least, according to reports, because it was warm.
Reports also say that members of the Austrian royal family frequented the café to sell valuable items they had managed to hide from the Nazis and Soviets.
Photo:Veniamin Kostitsin-Teterin