The devastating economic consequences of Coronavirus needed only a short time to manifest themselves, as the likely demise of one of Germany’s well-known chain restaurants bears out.

Vapiano, a chain serving primarily pastas, sauces and other Italian-inspired fare, declared itself insolvent on March 20.

The moderately-priced restaurant styled itself as friendly and transparent, with long oak tables at which large groups of friends and colleagues could sit together comfortably over salads, pizza, antipasti, and its signature dishes, homemade pastas and sauces made to order in front of its guests.

The popular chain got its start back in October of 2002 with a single restaurant in Hamburg, Germany and two years later began its expansion, including as a franchise concept. Nowadays, 200 Vapiano restaurants in more than 33 countries on five continents can be counted. A total of 55 restaurants across Germany employing some 3,800 workers operate under the company name.

The company has made an urgent appeal to the federal government for speedy implementation of any aid packages meant to prop up businesses facing financial ruin as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Should help come in a timely fashion, the restaurant’s board of directors holds out hope it can withdraw its declaration of bankruptcy.

Drastic as this news is, there is some light. The 29 restaurants that operate as franchises will not be affected by the bankruptcy of the group Vapiano SE. This spells good news for fans of the chain in Heilbronn, Kaiserslautern, Mainz, Ulm and Wiesbaden. Those who frequent Vapianos in Frankfurt, Mannheim, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and many other cities will likely need to satisfy their cravings for Italian-style cooking elsewhere.

A second chain restaurant, Maredo, is also sounding off about the inevitability of bowing out. This chain of 35 restaurants in Austria and Germany employs some 1000 workers and specializes in steaks. The Maredo brand has been around for over four decades.