Demel facts for kids
Demel pastry shop in Vienna
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| Industry | Confectionery (Konditorei) |
| Founded | 1786 |
| Founder | Ludwig Dehne Christoph Demel |
| Headquarters | Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria |
| Products | Pastries |
| Parent | Do & Co |
Demel is a very famous pastry shop and chocolate maker in Vienna, Austria. It first opened its doors way back in 1786. This special company still holds the title of "Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court." This means they used to supply delicious treats to the royal family!
Where is Demel Located?
Demel is in the heart of Vienna, in a district called Innere Stadt. You can find it on Kohlmarkt 14, which is very close to the grand Hofburg Palace.
The inside of the shop looks amazing! It was designed in a fancy style called Neo-baroque. The waitresses, who wear white aprons, are called Demelinerinnen. They have a special, traditional way of speaking to customers. They might ask, "Have you already chosen?" or "Would you like to have something, if you please?"
Demel used to have another shop in Salzburg, but it closed in 2012. They also had a small cafe in New York City at The Plaza hotel, which closed in 2010. Demel is still looking for a new place to open in New York.
A Sweet History of Demel
The pastry shop was started by Ludwig Dehne in 1786. He was a baker from a place called Württemberg. When he passed away in 1799, his wife continued the business for their young son, August.
In 1813, Ludwig's wife bought the building where the shop was located. August Dehne took over the company in 1832. He ran the business very well. However, his son decided to go into academics instead of baking. So, in 1857, August sold the company to his skilled worker, Christoph Demel.
The company was renamed Ch. Demel's Söhne in 1867. Christoph Demel's sons, Joseph and Karl, continued the family business. In 1874, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria gave them the special title of "purveyor to the Habsburg court." This was a great honor!
In 1888, the old Burgtheater building was taken down. This led to changes around Michaelerplatz. So, the pastry shop moved around the corner to Kohlmarkt. Demel is still in that same original building today. During the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, many important people visited Demel. These included Empress Elisabeth, also known as Sisi, and Princess Pauline von Metternich.
Demel's family members continued to lead the company until 1972. After that, the company changed hands a few times. In 2002, a company called Do & Co took over Demel. They are a well-known restaurants and catering company.
Demel Museum
Demel in Vienna also has a small museum. It shows interesting items and tells the story of this historic chocolate-making bakery. It's a great way to learn about the past of this famous sweet shop.
See Also
- List of restaurants in Vienna
