Plans to open 'Fritzl Cellar' pub in Warsaw cancelled after protest

“We are surprised by the response we have met about Piwnica U Fritzla [Friztl’s Cellar]. We understand that such a controversial man can arouse negative emotions but we had no idea that this would be met with such a strong reaction,” says a statement on the club and pub’s Facebook page after it was bombarded with complaints.

Piwnica U Fritzla was due to open this Friday but the owners now say that they will not be opening under the planned name.

The 82 year-old Josef Fritzl is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty four years ago of imprisoning his daughter for over two decades in the basement of his home in Amstetten, Lower Austria.

His daughter, Elisabeth, said he sexually abused and raped her during her imprisonment and the incestuous relationship forced upon her by her father resulted in the birth of seven children.

The manager of the planned Fritzl’s Cellar in Warsaw, Robert Surowiecki, has said that the name was chosen after a majority of locals responded to the idea as an example of “black humour” and that it would “attract customers”.

“The tenant has expressed remorse and apologized and admitted it was a marketing ploy,” Mateusz Dallali, a spokesman for the Department of Real Estate Management, which leased premises on the Nowy Swiat street in the centre of Warsaw, told the TVN24 news station.

“He has admitted that this was a very bad joke and has withdrawn the idea. His position now satisfies us,” he added. (pg)