Cafe Frauenhuber Chronik

H istory of the Cafe Frauenhuber A very popular cafe was the one founded by Alois Hänisch, which until 1824 was located at the old Fleischmarkt [“meat market”, a street in the central Viennese 1st District] and where you could always have a good conversation. On October 24th, 1824, the café moved to the address Himmelpfortgasse No. 965, in today’s counting No. 6 [also in the 1st District] , where he attracted attention with his sign. Around 1827 he had two life-size figures painted on his door-posts by the history painter Erasmus Engerth, one allegedly depicting the first coffee- maker Kolschitzky. The café had the reputation of being one of the most quiet in town, because its was patronized strongly by pensioned military officers and civil servants, who would play chess and whist. During the carnival season delicious egg punch was served. Then the café would be somewhat livelier. In 1840 the café was acquired by one Kasimir, later, in 1849, by Anton Zagorz, who had it refurbished by Johann Zizula. The café has changed its name a few times, eg. “Kaffeehaus Herzog”, and since 1891 it has had its present name, “Café Frauenhuber”. S ince 1891 the house has accommodated the wellknown Café Frauenhuber. This Café has been able to keep up its good reputation which it had already acquired in the days of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and it still is one of the most popular and best-visited cafés of the bourgeoisie in Vienna. the house band with red uniforms and golden braids. Children’s balls and charity balls were staged here. The musical clown Bohdanowicz and his family played piano eighthanded in 1802 and A.W. Schlegel held 15 lectures on drama in March and April of 1808. Jahn’s son Franz continued the res- taurant after his father’s death, but it eventually lost its glamour. In 1812 he sold it to Andreas Popper who ended the business sometime during the 1820s. By then the house was already owned by count Karl Strachwitz. In 1839 it belonged to Johann Ender, in 1849 to Johann and Hedwig Langer, in 1869 to Sigmund Teitelbaum. At that time the sign read “Zum Hopfenstock” (“To the Hop Vine”). In 1877 the building was renovated. I n 1885 possession was transfer- red to the “Wiener Versicherungs Ges.” (“Viennese Insurance Company”), in 1899 the building was acquired by the state and some departments of the Ministry of Finance moved into it, which had moved its seat to the adjacent Palais of Prince Eugen in 1848.