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History about Krogen Soldaten Švejk

Text: Eric Källgren and Harry Lord, Translation: Dale Raneberg

Jaroslav Hašek
”The Good Soldier Švejk and his
Fortunes in the World War”


When Švejk and Vodička farewell each other, and are taken to join their units, Švejk said:
- ‘When the war is over, then come and see me. You can find me every evening from six o’clock onwards, at “The Chalice” on Na Bojišti.’
- ‘Of course I will come,’ answered Vodička. ‘Is it a fun place?’
- ‘Every day there is a hoot’, Švejk promised, ‘and if it is too quiet, then we will fix it.’

Mr and Mrs Vavra

To Sweden

 Zdenek Vavra, and his family, came to Sweden from Czechoslovakia in 1968.

Purchase of bistro

 In 1974, the Vavra family took over the well-known bistro “Mika” at 35 Östgötagatan in Södermalm, Stockholm. They changed the name to “Krogen Soldaten Švejk” and began serving Czech-inspired home cooking.

Švejk expands

The bistro originally comprised the area where the bar is today, and behind it was the kitchen. In 1988, extensions into the neighbouring property created the current dinning room (previously this had been a carpenter workshop) and improved storage facilities (in the courtyard, there had previously been a greengrocer).

The monopoly ends

 When the Swedish monopoly on importing spirit, wine and beer suddenly ceased in 1995, Bohemia Regent was welcomed as the first Czech beer on tap at Švejk.

Czech draft beer festival

The first draft beer festival, with no less than 20 types of Czech and Slovak beer on tap, celebrated the beginning of spring in 1996. This started a tradition that has continued every year since.

Obtaining an import licence

To secure the supply of a variety of draft beer from Czech breweries, Zdenek Vavra became a beer importer in 1997.

Aftonbladet (a Stockholm daily newspaper): ‘The Best Beer Bistro’

“Krogen Soldaten Švejk” is one of Stockholm’s very best beer bistros, according to Aftonbladets reporter Göran Winbergh: ‘A classic beer bar. So cosy-rustic East European, so friendly and comfy, so charming staff, so beer knowledgeable customers, so well-tended beer that you have to go back again!’

New bistro generation

 In 2001, the Vavra family’s daughter Anna and her husband took over “Krogen Soldaten Švejk”. Today, ten Czech beers on tap, together with Czech home cooking, continue to invite customers.

Special brewed draft beer

 Interesting special brewed Czech draft beer and delicious, specially prepared Czech dishes are now often on the menu to the delight of Švejk’s discriminating customers.

... Jaroslav Hašek:
”The Good Soldier Švejk and his Fortunes in the World War”

They parted, and when they were a good distance from each other, old Sapper Vodička called after Švejk:
- ’Very well then, but make sure you arrange some fun when I come to see you!’
- Švejk called back: ‘Be sure to come as soon as the war is over!’
Then they continued and went further from each other, but after a while Vodička’s voice could be heard checking back from around the corner of the barracks:
- ‘Švejk, Švejk, what beer do they have at “The Chalice”?’
Švejk’s answer came back like an echo:
- ‘Velkopopovicke.’

 

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© 2006 Svejk AB
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