Historic Ruszwurm Pastry Shop Closes After 15-Year Legal Battle

One of Hungary’s most iconic pastry shops, the historic Ruszwurm Cukrászda, has closed its doors after a protracted legal battle. The District I Municipality of Budapest has repossessed the property following a lengthy dispute with the operator, Ruszwurm Kft., which had accumulated significant debt, reports Világgazdaság.

“The District I Municipality took possession of the properties used by Ruszwurm Cukrászda shortly after 7 a.m. this morning. This brings an end to a dispute that has dragged on for more than 15 years,” announced Mayor László Böröcz yesterday on social media.

In the mayor’s view, Ruszwurm Kft. had been renting the municipality-owned properties far below market rates for years.

The dispute began over 15 years ago when the local government attempted to adjust the rent to reflect market conditions. Ruszwurm Kft. rejected the new terms, and in 2015, the district terminated the lease agreement.

A protracted legal battle followed. After a temporary pause in proceedings following the 2019 municipal elections, litigation resumed in 2020. The company’s owner, Miklós Szamos, later publicly accused the mayor of soliciting money in exchange for a deal.

The case dragged on for years until Hungary’s Supreme Court (Curia of Hungary) ultimately ruled in favor of the municipality, ordering the company to vacate the premises and pay more than HUF 300 million (cc. EUR 770,000) in back rent and other liabilities.

Photo: Ruszwurm Cukrászda Budai Vár Facebook

Mayor Böröcz revealed that last fall, the municipality made two offers in an effort to preserve the shop. First, they proposed taking over the company and continuing to operate the pastry shop. Then, they offered to rehire the employees through a municipally owned company to relaunch the business. Both proposals were rejected.

The company racked up several hundred million forints in debt, a fact confirmed by a final court ruling. We had no choice but to take back possession of the properties,”

the mayor stated.

He added that the district plans to hold an open tender this fall to find a new team capable of operating a high-quality pastry shop at the same location.

The closure marks the end of an era for Ruszwurm Cukrászda, one of Hungary’s historically renowned confectioneries. Founded in 1827, the pastry shop operated continuously in the Buda Castle District near Matthias Church, becoming a beloved institution among locals and tourists alike.

After the eviction of the pastry shop, the 79-year‑old owner, Miklós Szamos, tragically suffered a fatal heart attack just hours after the Budapest municipality enforced the closure of Ruszwurm Cukrászda.

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