History of the place
Grano Hotel**** Gdańsk Riverside
ul. Toruńska 12
Grano Hotel**** Gdańsk Riverside is a place where the history of Gdańsk meets modern hospitality. The building at 12 Toruńska Street has been a witness to the city's transformations for over 150 years – from the times of the Prussian garrison, through the Free City of Gdańsk period and the industrial glory of the marzipan and cocoa factory, to the contemporary hotel located on the Motława River.
Photos are from the website:
From the Port Square to the Garrison Town
Until the mid-19th century, the area of today's Grano Hotel**** Gdańsk Riverside remained undeveloped. It was located at the junction of the former Łasztownia and Dylowy Square – spaces used for trade, wood storage, and port activities. It was a place situated on the outskirts of historic Gdańsk, closely connected to the Motława River and the maritime character of the city.
After the Napoleonic Wars, Gdańsk once again came under Prussian rule and was transformed into one of the region's most important fortresses. The dynamic development of the garrison required the construction of logistical facilities, warehouses, and service buildings. In the 1860s, near the barracks on Żabi Kruk Street, the Garrison Laundry was established – a modern complex for its time serving thousands of soldiers stationed in the city.
The location was not accidental. The proximity to the Motława River provided access to water, and the nearby first Gdańsk railway station facilitated transport
and supplies.
"Saturn" Marzipan and Cocoa Factory
After the end of World War I and the establishment of the Free City of Gdańsk, the facility changed its purpose. In 1922, the former laundry was converted into the "Saturn" Marzipan and Cocoa Factory, owned by Ewald Doering.
The new function did not require a complete reconstruction – the original layout of the buildings was preserved, mainly changing their use. Where Prussian soldiers' uniforms were previously washed, confectionery products began to be produced, filling the area with the scents of cocoa, almonds, and marzipan.
The factory operated until the end of World War II and became one of the characteristic industrial plants of the Old Suburb. This period is the most strongly remembered and remains its unique heritage to this day.
WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION
In 1945, the Old Suburb was almost completely destroyed. The marzipan factory also suffered severe damage – roofs burned down, wooden ceilings collapsed, and a significant part of the production wing was lost.
After the war, the building was partially rebuilt and used for many years by the industrial company "Bacutil." Its historic outline was preserved, but the architecture was simplified and some original elements were changed to adapt the facility to new functions.
A new chapter by the Motlawa
In the 21st century, the place regained its unique character. A modern hotel was established, combining contemporary comfort with the history of this part of Gdańsk. The investment was completed in 2016 on the site of a former marzipan and cocoa factory, preserving the memory of the building's industrial past. The hotel initially operated under the name Hotel Almond Business & SPA. In 2022, it joined the Grano Hotels network, and in 2025 it took on its current name – Grano Hotel**** Gdańsk Riverside, opening a new chapter in its history.
A heritage that still lives
The history of Toruńska 12 is a story of an extraordinary transformation – from the port suburbs of medieval Gdańsk, through a military laundry and a cocoa-scented marzipan factory, to a place of rest visited by guests from around the world.
Although the functions of the building and the surrounding city changed, one thing remained constant – it was always a place full of life, work, and human encounters.
Today, Grano Hotel**** Gdańsk Riverside continues this story, inviting its guests to a place whose walls remember more than one and a half centuries of Gdańsk history. Traces of the old marzipan and cocoa factory are not only part of the local history, but also an inspiration for building a new, contemporary identity – based on hospitality, quality, and respect for the past.