Selbstbedienungsgaststätte "pick-nick", Self-service restaurant at Grunaer Straße, Dresden, Germany
Pick-nick was a self-service restaurant on Grunaer Straße with a counter about 27 meters long, roughly 120 seats, and some 100 standing places. The building stood out for its distinctive butterfly-shaped roof structure.
The restaurant opened on July 14, 1961, and was one of the first modern self-service establishments in East Germany. It shaped the dining habits of thousands of guests each day.
The name referred to the modern concept of self-service dining, which was quite unusual for the time. Visitors experienced a new way of eating that combined speed with comfort.
The place operated with a voucher system where guests received tickets at the entrance and could select meals from different serving stations. Large windows offered good views of the interior from outside.
Before the building was demolished in 2022, an artist community used the basement for art projects, giving the old place new life. This artistic legacy remained unknown to many visitors.
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