How an Abandoned Open-Air Pool Became a Blight on a City.
No trace of beach vibes left: The former leaseholder of the “Lido Beach Bar” in Rapperswil ran out of money.
Picturesque scenes from a summer dream: young people dancing in the light of the setting sun, toasting with colorful drinks. Fine sand slipping through fingers. Relaxing in the whirlpool. This is how the dynamic event manager Martin Roth advertised the new “Lido Beach Bar” on his website in the spring of 2023.
The place where the summer dream is supposed to come true: a run-down, over seventy-year-old open-air pool next to the ice rink in Rapperswil-Jona, which is no longer in operation.
The city is pleased with the interim use until a new open-air pool can be built. The main thing is that the area is not left vacant. They believe they have chosen the right man. Roth has experience in the industry, having organized numerous major events in recent years.
To create a real beach feeling, Roth pours about fifty tons of sand onto the former open-air pool area, sets up palm trees, and lets inflatable plastic flamingos float in the former diving pool, which Roth calls “Teich.” Soon, a few goldfish swim in it.
Roth is confident. When the pool was still in operation a few years ago, hundreds of guests gathered here in the summer. He believes the bar will also be a success.
But everything turns out differently.
Prefer an Aperitif in the City Center
The difficulties start with Roth opening on September 1, 2023 – when the summer gastronomy season is almost over. Roth says he needed the time until then to prepare.
He hopes for a few good weeks as a lot is at stake for him: He had already invested around 80,000 Swiss francs in the bar, he told the “Linth-Zeitung” the day before the opening.
But the start is sluggish. He thought the location so close to the lake would be attractive, but people prefer to go for an aperitif in the city center. A problem is that he has to close his bar at nine o’clock every evening.
The city itself is initially optimistic. The responsible city councilor Ueli Dobler tells NZZ that Roth presented a convincing concept to the city. However, at the opening in September 2023, he was surprised that the bar was not at least partially covered and lacked enclosed spaces, Dobler says. “No one will stop by if it’s cool and raining.”
Out of goodwill, the city eventually waived two months’ rent for the tenant.
The tenant Roth says he was aware that he would have to invest in the bar. But he lacked the money for it. When the new season started in the spring of 2024, it rained for weeks. The flamingos and goldfish in the “Teich” remained lonely.
And then Roth realizes he has competition: Right on the lakeside promenade, a few meters in front of his bar, there is a container with a small gastronomy offer. “They also sold beer and Aperol Spritz there. That finally broke my neck.”
By mid-July 2024, he could no longer pay his hourly employees. “So I continued alone and also earned nothing.”
Roth stopped paying rent. And the city terminated his lease at the end of the year.
So the tenant closed the bar. But he left the inventory behind: furniture, plastic flamingos, umbrellas. “A huge mess,” says councilor Dobler. “It looked like a war zone.”
In January, he and Roth still had contact. “I told him he had to clear the bar. But he told me he wasn’t doing anything because his company had no money left.” They then agreed that he would at least feed the fish.
But apparently, that didn’t work out either. So the councilor himself made sure the animals were fed.
At least in the former swimming pool, they seemed to be doing well, with almost 200 fish now swimming in the pool.
Specialists Rescue the Goldfish
Today, a year and a half later, there is no longer any trace of beach vibes at Lido. In March, the District Court of See-Gaster ordered the area to be cleared, and it is fenced off with a metal fence. The furniture, including plastic flamingos, is gone, and the water in the “Teich” has been drained.
Next to the fence stands a dried-up palm tree in a broken pot, in a corner a crumpled banner with the inscription “Lido Beach Bar.” And the fifty tons of sand are still there. The area has become the eyesore that the city wanted to prevent.
To save the goldfish, Councilor Dobler has commissioned a specialized company. They are to be “brought to a new, suitable home under the best possible conditions.” Some of the fish have already been placed. The rest are housed in a hall at the company.
Dobler expects the clearance to cost several thousand Swiss francs. Previously, the city had already invested 125,000 Swiss francs in upgrading the area.
Theoretically, the city could invoice Roth for the clearance work. But Dobler says there is probably no money left. “It’s a human and financial tragedy.”
Roth says his company is in bankruptcy proceedings.
The interim use experiment at Lido has failed. For now, the vacant land will remain as it is. Dobler says, “We have become cautious.”
Event manager Roth is now looking for a permanent position in his original profession as a trained chef. He has had enough of self-employment.
All that remains of the summer dream is the sand, from which plants are now sprouting. It will be a long time before anything is built here: Last fall, the local population rejected a project for a new open-air pool.
The city of Rapperswil-Jona has now cleared the area next to the ice rink. All that remains is the sand.