Eugene Block: “The first million is the only one that counts for me”

interview

Editor’s note: This interview appeared first which, like stern, is part of RTL Deutschland.

Mister blockhow did you come across steaks of all things?
That was in California. I liked the steak restaurants in their ski lodge simplicity. I thought: “I do that in Germany!” At the end of the sixties there were only tablecloth restaurants for fine dining. My pioneering work was to create a new type of restaurant that made eating out popular in an uncomplicated way.

What were your starting conditions?
I had a good international education. With six siblings at home, but little money. Nevertheless, my mother contributed 10,000 marks to help me start my own business. In 1968 I already knew my future wife Christa, but we weren’t married yet. I didn’t want to commit until I could provide for a family myself. I also wanted to take care of my own pension.

When was the first million there?
I opened my fourth Block House in the Wandsbek district of Hamburg in 1972. That was the breakthrough. On the sixth day after opening, I was standing in line. I was so sure that I explained to my wife in a euphoric mood: “Now I’m going to be a millionaire!” Since then, I have not set a wealth goal for myself. The first million is the only one that counts for me.

Have you treated yourself to something?
I treated myself to a new car, a 230 Mercedes. But my priority has always been the healthy growth of my company. When our first child was born in 1973, we chose a beautiful property in Hamburg’s Alster Valley. This became our family home.

Has the money changed your life?
I have always remained frugal and modest. The money remained in the company for further growth, for example for the founding of the Grand Elysée Hotel. I was also able to fulfill my dream of owning my own brewery. In this respect, money has changed my life in a positive way, especially in terms of entrepreneurial investments.

However, you suffered a setback when you founded your own airline in the 1980s. Did that bother you?
As an entrepreneur, I implement my ideas. I personally wasn’t successful with Hamburg Airlines, but Hamburg today has twice as many connections to European cities as it did at the end of the 1980s. My goal was to ensure that as many cities as possible could be reached non-stop and therefore as quickly as possible for travelers. So my idea was right!

Now you fight against, as you say, “greedy” Hotel portals that charge up to 25 percent commission for online bookings. What drives you there?
We are fighting for a rethink and want to correct market conditions again. Hoteliers must be aware that today’s booking portals are harming the industry. They destroy the price and charge unreasonably high commissions for too little service. With us the guest receives the best service and can cancel free of charge. Bookings via portals are 15 euros more expensive.