Brno will re-rent the spaces in Muzejce, the former tenant has vacated them

Brno – Brno will again lease the premises of the former artisanal bakery in the Bergl Palace on Moravské náměstí, known as Muzejka. Radka Loukotová from the press center of the Brno City Hall told ČTK. Disputes with the former tenant, the company Gattamelata, had prevented the use of the premises. The city had three disputes with the company, one of which involved a demand for the premises to be vacated. The dispute ended when the former tenant vacated the premises voluntarily, as highlighted by Czech Radio this week. However, two other disputes are ongoing.

The tenant of Muzejka received a notice of termination of the lease in May 2023. The city justified this by citing long-standing issues with paying rent or energy deposits and unauthorized alterations to the interiors without regard for their heritage value. In response to the termination on Instagram, the company described its eight years of functioning in city premises as incredibly difficult, and labeled the city leadership as despotic and arrogant.

After the resolution of the eviction dispute, the city is preparing the premises for new leasing. According to Loukotová, the city aims to publish the plan during the summer. She added that anything can be in the premises since the terms of the lease will not stipulate that they must be used for gastronomy.

There are still two ongoing lawsuits between Gattamelata and the city. In one, the company is suing Brno for unjust enrichment. The plaintiff demanded 1.2 million crowns from the city, with the court in Brno partially granting this request. According to the ruling, the city should pay around 160,000 crowns. Both parties have appealed this ruling. "The appellate court decided and confirmed the ruling of the first instance court," said Loukotová. In the second lawsuit, Brno is the plaintiff, concerning overdue rental amounts until the end of 2023. "The district court in Třebíč has decided that the proceedings will be suspended until the final conclusion of the second proceedings. This lawsuit is currently ongoing without any progress," Loukotová added.

The Bergl Palace, also known as Bergler Palace, Bergl Villa or Muzejka, was built in the 1860s as a neo-Renaissance house with a neo-Gothic facade. The building was designed by Vienna architect Heinrich Ferstel, who also created the nearby Red Church and several other buildings in Brno. The name Muzejka was given to the building in the 1920s when it belonged to the Agricultural Museum, and the Museum Café was located on the ground floor. The museum was abolished in 1943, but the name remained. It has been protected as a heritage site since 1964.