"You have to take matters into your own hands!"

Mathias Weiß & Heike Ludwig

Early afternoon on the Kaßberg. Warm spring sun shines on the small square in front of the so-called winter quarters of "Emma's Uncle", a café that is actually a circus wagon. It's after lunchtime. A few guests are still sitting on the large terrace in front of the café. People know and greet each other. Chemnitz is not a big city and "Emma's Uncle" is a must at this time of day. There's almost a relaxed piazza atmosphere in the air.
The idea for the construction trailer came about because he had a circus trailer in mind, says Mathias Weiß, owner of Emma's Uncle: "In 2012, I had a lot of time, not much to do, but still a bit of money. We found a construction trailer and then bought it for a lot of money. Almost too much money. It was pretty run down and there were ants in it, so everything had to come down. We thought to ourselves: "Blimey, we'll have to rebuild it from scratch. Then some friends said: Why don't you sell ice cream and coffee and put it in front of the bookshop? That's how it came about. One thing led to another and then the Italian coffee machine, and in the end we couldn't say no anymore."
The coffee machine now stands in the cosily converted shop on Weststraße, which today houses Mathias Weiß's idea: a café.
When we arrive, we are greeted by Heike Ludwig, the owner's girlfriend. A feeling of relaxation spreads immediately. Nothing seems strained, you are simply there. Mathias comes out of the kitchen and takes a seat with us.

Is that your mission in life?
Mathias Weiß: No! I see "Emma's Uncle" as a project. My life works in projects. And you can't see something like that as your life's work. We thought to ourselves, "Why don't we open a café?" We always have a lot to do and a lot of money to invest.

Chemnitz is not necessarily known for its famous Michelin-starred cuisine. Nevertheless, there are a few top culinary addresses for the people of Chemnitz. With "Emmas Onkel", you have taken a completely different path and redefined the classic snack bar, so to speak. What drives you?
Mathias Weiß: When we started, the snack bar wasn't the main focus. The idea was that you couldn't find a proper café anywhere in Chemnitz. I've been looking at this since 1998 and it hasn't worked out and in the end I had to realise, as with so many other things: You have to take things into your own hands! The focus is not on making a high-quality snack to star chef standards. I can't offer that either. But I personally value the coffee. That's where the story came from in the end. That's also my quality standard, let's say, to make good coffee.

You started with the circus wagon, then came the Italian pizza wagon, the Ape, as the mobile part of "Emma's Uncle", so to speak, and the café as a winter home. Each one is a success story in its own right. What are you doing right?
Mathias Weiß: 150 per cent energy! So the situation is that I have this aspiration. But I also tell myself: if it doesn't work, then that's the way it is. But to have this tension: "If it doesn't work out now, what am I going to do? Well, well, well, then I'll be unemployed!" I don't think like that. That's why I don't feel so compelled now. I just do what I enjoy. And only that. Of course it hurts sometimes - work always hurts - but if it's no longer fun, then it's wrong.

How much room does Chemnitz have for ideas like "Emma's Uncle", for alternative concepts?
Heike Ludwig: Well, I can't really tell you. There are a lot of people who are open and happy to try something out. And there are also a hell of a lot of people who just want to be left alone.

Why is "Emma's Uncle" such a success despite these people?
Heike Ludwig: I think it's because there are a lot of young people in our audience.
Mathias Weiß: They're here.

Young people?
Mathias Weiß: Of course!
Heike Ludwig: But there is actually also a proportion of older people who have remained very young. They are probably open to the world and accept something like this.

Is there more room for ideas like "Emma's Uncle" in Chemnitz?
Heike Ludwig: We've noticed that since "Emma's Uncle" has been around, cafés have been springing up. Somehow all in the space of a year.

Do you feel like a doer?
Mathias Weiß: I am someone who gets things done.

Do you sometimes complain?
Mathias Weiß: Of course I do!
Heike Ludwig: We both grumble. But to your question about being a doer: I think when you feel like a doer, or that state, you only get it afterwards. When you realise that you've achieved what you set out to do and whether something real has come of it. The question: did it turn out right or will it be right - we don't know that beforehand. In the worst-case scenario, we've made a total mess of things and nothing comes of it. And then we say in 10 years' time: "Remember back then...?"

What flavour does Chemnitz have for you?
Heike Ludwig: Firstly, it depends a lot on the weather and also a bit on what kind of people you meet. Maybe also how you get up in the morning.

And is Chemnitz more bourgeois or open to new things?
Heike Ludwig: In terms of flavour, it always feels like an experiment. You have to talk people into it a bit and take them by the hand.

If you had to bake a cake according to your concept or your idea of Chemnitz - what would it look and taste like?
Heike Ludwig: I can't answer that question because I wouldn't bake according to the Chemnitz concept, but according to my needs. Somehow healthy - so that you can eat it all without feeling bad. At least that's my standard.

Mathias, I've been told that you're a famous cake baker.
Mathias Weiß: There are more famous ones.

I know, but your cakes are already very well known. If you were to bake a cake from Chemnitz, what would it look like and how would it taste?
Mathias Weiß: It's definitely pretty honest. And no frills anyway.

So no additives?
Mathias Weiß: "Honest" means concentrated fine flavour. Fancies would be golden sugar on top, icing and buttercream. And maybe some cake figurines. Just frills, decorations. Frills are difficult! You don't need frills.

What flavour does Chemnitz have for you?
Mathias Weiß: I'm not sure you can say that. There is no such thing as THE Chemnitz flavour. There are many people in this city. That's why you can't talk about THE Chemnitz flavour any more than you can talk about THE Chemnitz person. It's like a cake - I couldn't describe to you what flavour the cake should have, whether sweet or fresh. I think it can be just as different as anywhere else.

This raises the question for the Freiberg native: Why not Dresden? Or Leipzig?
Mathias Weiß: Why here? Well, we live here. I don't miss anything in my social environment. And what I want, what might be possible in other cities: maybe fresher air, trees on the market square - if I want to experience that, then I'll go there. Kaßberg is beautiful and this city is my base in life. Of course, you always have to make compromises. Hamburg is expensive, for example. Berlin has also become expensive and far too crowded. The Côte d'Azur is also great, but I can't afford it at the moment.

The motto is "I am the city" - what would you wish for? What would have to happen for you to say: "I am the city"?
Mathias Weiß: There are always moments when you meet people who are like you and then you become a group and a network. And this network is what defines the city for me. Of course, I can start complaining on one side: "It's not working and it's stupid." But then I have the other side, which is really good. The problem is that there are too many regulations. But there are just as many regulations as in Dresden or Leipzig or anywhere else. Where do you start? That's just the way it is. There are positive and negative things that assimilate each other. Like our café.