Heinz Beck's star shined on the Milanese bistro "Attimi" at Citylife in Milan for only two years. The news had been circulating for some time, already after the end of the lockdown and the start of the summer season, chef Heinz Beck, when asked about the future of his restaurants, had expressed some doubts about the Milanese restaurant. Now it has been confirmed. “Attimi” gives way (and location) to Wagamama, a well-known British chain of Asian food restaurants, a brand managed in Italy by the company controlled by Cremonini, acquired after the joint venture with the Percassi group.
The news of the interruption of “Attimi by Heinz Beck” was given by the Chef Express group, which had started a collaboration with the chef for the new format, inaugurating the first bistro at the Rome airport in 2017. “ The partnership of excellence with Beck continues – reads a note from the company which has more than 200 catering outlets with various brands in railway stations, shopping centres, airports and motorway service areas – but we need a moment to reflect understand which direction to move in after the pandemic which still has significant impacts on some areas of the business. In the meantime, let's hope that international flights will also resume, so that we can reopen the bistro by Beck in Fiumicino in the short term. If the activities along the motorway network went well this summer, thanks to internal tourist mobility, unfortunately the refreshment points in the railway stations continue to suffer. But it is too early to take stock".
What is certain is that Beck's restaurant located in the Food Hall of Citylife, the futuristic shopping center in Milan, designed as a bistro and luxury restaurant, an ideal business lunch, or an ideal dinner with colleagues thanks to its strategic position has been affected by the effects of smartworking it has depopulated the shopping center and the two operating towers, Allianz and Generali, of its target audience. And even for the September recovery, less than half of the employees are expected to return to work. With all the health uncertainties of the autumn which at the moment prefigure worrying scenarios for the Milanese business district.
Wagamama, the well-known British chain of Asian food restaurants in Milan is already present with a space in the city center and one at Malpensa airport, and will soon open a point at the Serravalle outlet.
