Patisserie Johanna: A Memorial and New Beginning in Hamburg

A new patisserie, Patisserie Johanna, has opened in Hamburg in February 2024, founded by Inka and Ralph Orth. The establishment honors their daughter, Johanna Orth, who died in the severe Ahr valley flood in Germany in July 2021. Johanna, an aspiring master patissière, was one of more than 220 fatalities in the European disaster.

The patisserie serves as both a memorial and a community space, while Ralph Orth has become an advocate for improved flood preparedness.

The Tragic 2021 Ahr Valley Flood

Johanna Orth, 22, was a certified master patissière with plans to open her own shop, which she intended to name "Marlies" after her grandmother, who also had aspirations of opening a café. In July 2021, her hometown of Bad Neuenahr, located in Germany's Ahr valley, was impacted by a severe flood.

Between July 14 and 15, 2021, the Ahr River's water levels reached approximately 10 meters. Johanna Orth contacted her parents as waters entered her ground-floor apartment, and communication subsequently ceased. Her body was discovered two days later in a parking garage. She was among more than 220 individuals who died across Europe during the disaster. The senior citizens' residence operated by her parents, Inka and Ralph Orth, was also destroyed in the flood.

Establishment of Patisserie Johanna

Following their daughter's death, Inka Orth enrolled in pastry classes in Ulm, pursuing an interest connected to her daughter's profession. During this time, she met Marcel Reinhardt, who later became her business partner. Inka and Ralph Orth then decided to establish a patisserie, naming it Patisserie Johanna.

Ralph Orth stated that the venture provided them with a shared objective.

They selected Hamburg as the location, citing it as a favored city and distant from the flood-damaged Ahr valley. A 700-square-meter space in a 19th-century former cocoa storage facility in Hamburg's Unesco-listed warehouse district was chosen for the shop.

Patisserie Johanna officially opened in February 2024 and currently employs approximately 30 staff members. The shop offers a range of seasonal pastries, chocolates, and gateaux, and displays certificates from German Chocolate Awards. Johanna's best friend, Franzi, manages the shop's online marketing and social media.

Tributes and Commemoration

The patisserie incorporates various tributes to Johanna Orth:

• Portraits of Johanna are displayed within the shop.
• A butterfly logo, used on many confections, is featured.
• Filigree wings are included on petit fours.
• A bronze sculpture depicts Johanna alongside one of her cats, which also perished in the flood.

Advocacy and Community Engagement

The Orths report that the shop has become a gathering place for parents who have experienced the loss of a child. Visitors sometimes express solidarity with the Orths.

The establishment aims to provide a positive community experience for its customers, with the Orths stating that the shop focuses on community and positive experiences, rather than mourning.

Ralph Orth has become a representative for families affected by the Ahr valley flood. He has advocated for accountability for political officials regarding alleged failures in emergency evacuation orders, with legal action pending. The Orths regularly commute to Bad Neuenahr to visit family and Johanna's grave.

They have expressed concerns regarding the implementation of flood early-warning systems and prevention measures in German urban areas, particularly in the context of increasing climate change-related flood risks. Ralph Orth has cited Hamburg's post-1962 flood recovery as an example of improved disaster preparedness.