Our history

The traditional establishment is founded by Josef and Juliane Schanderl, who acquire the house from Countess Leopoldine von Attems.

The café, then referred to as Cafe Spitzer, is probably renovated for the first time.

Under its owner Caroline Haschberger, the café changes its name: the French way of life, which had already delighted Metternich at the beginning of the century, catches on with the wider population, and French has become the language of the educated. The café is renamed “Cafe Français” and becomes a fixture of Baden’s café scene. An eventful period follows, with the owners changing several times.

Franz Cortella takes over the house and adds a very elegant veranda.

The coffee house is extended with a hotel.

With the First World War, enthusiasm for all things French turns sour. Until 1914 many café owners had tried to win customers as a kind of French outpost – now attitudes are reversed. Soon after the fighting begins, the venerable coffee house on the main square is given the familiar name “Zentral”.

Michael Agoston runs the café together with his wife Marie. During the Second World War the “Zentral” hosts concerts; towards the end of the war it closes its doors and is used as a detention camp for prisoners.

Cafe Central reopens its doors. When the cast-iron veranda was replaced by the one that stands today remains unknown.

The Habeler family from Bad Fischau takes over Cafe Central.

On 1 January 2015 the Kreiker family takes over “Cafe Central” and revives the traditional coffee house culture that had almost been lost.