Joachim Natschläger
Joachim Natschläger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1977 |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Occupation | entrepreneur |
| Known for | Nightlife ventures, Empire Club chain |
Joachim Natschläger (born 1977 in Innsbruck, Tyrol) is an Austrian entrepreneur known for his involvement in the nightlife and gastronomy sectors, particularly in Vienna.
Career
[edit]Natschläger began his career as a DJ at the age of 14 and later managed his father’s discotheque. In 2000, he co-founded the Empire Club in Linz, which became one of Austria’s largest nightclubs. At its peak, the Empire Club chain expanded to ten locations, including one in Vienna. However, due to market saturation and changing consumer preferences, the chain faced financial difficulties, leading to the closure of several venues by 2014.[1]
Austrian billionaire Ronny Pecik became involved with Natschläger’s business activities through the Horst Group, a hospitality and nightlife conglomerate. Pecik acquired a property on Rotgasse in Vienna, formerly owned by Natschläger’s family, and invited him to launch a pop-up club named Horst, which subsequently expanded into a chain of upscale nightlife venues.[2]
Under their collaboration, several high-profile venues opened in Vienna, including the club O in the Albertina district and the hip-hop club Inc. The Horst Group’s portfolio later grew to include other establishments such as bar Hannelore and club Heidi, noted for their distinctive alpine chalet-inspired interiors.[3]
Controversies
[edit]According to a Der Standard investigation, Natschläger was involved in restaurant projects such as Ziizuu and Maya Garden,[4] which reportedly had financial backing from Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Fedotenkov, who is wanted by the judiciary in his home country.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Clubkultur: Joachim Natschläger im Gespräch". Superfly.fm. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ "Neues Hotel und ein "Party-Hotspot" sperren am Opernring auf". leadersnet.at. 2021-10-19.
- ^ Anita Kattinger (2022-04-04). "Investor Ronny Pecik zeigt Feierlaune und eröffnet Edel-Disco". Kurier.
- ^ "Kein Essen, kein Schnickschnack – Club Dam Dam im einstigen Birdland". Die Presse. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ Bernhard Odehnal (2023-12-14). "Wie ein von der Justiz gesuchter ukrainischer Geschäftsmann in die Wiener Gastro eindringt". Der Standard.
External links
[edit]- Interview with Joachim Natschläger on Superfly.fm (in German)
- Interview in Kurier (in German)