2023-10-07 13:46:00
Until recently, there were the offices of the land management of the City of Brussels here. From this austere and administrative interior, the Bruxselair association has turned it into a large “pop-up store”.
There are still a few ticket machines and queue markings left, but they now sit alongside trendy decoration, clothing and paintings by Brussels artists. “It is a temporary occupation until January 2025. We did not want to leave this magnificent place empty. Plus, no one really stops at this place. The idea was therefore to create an open place,” explains Vincent Le Merer, project coordinator.
From the first to the third floor of this former luxury hotel, each room welcomes local designers. Clothing, fabrics, jewelry… In total, around forty residents are already present in these spaces, open to customers from Friday to Sunday. “We put our entire workshop here,” Louise, who launched her jewelry brand under the name Boucle d’Or, shows us. A premises that she shares with Fanny (Alga), who also makes jewelry. “We all already know each other. This type of place was missing in Brussels, where creators come together.”
Two jewelry designers, Louise (Boucle d’Or) and Fanny (Alga) ©cameriere ennio
Another room, another atmosphere. Here, textiles are king. Spools, sewing machines, scissors… “Before, I did everything in my room. Being in the city center of Brussels is a great opportunity,” Héloïse (Herdknits) tells us.
Héloïse (Hedknits) and Aline (Cousons cousine) ©cameriere ennio
On the ground floor, there is a bar and a restaurant, Pois Chicke, already present on rue Haute next to the Notre-Dame de la Chapelle church in the Marolles. “It’s an honor to be here,” smiles Yezen, the owner of the oriental restaurant. The Horeca area is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Please note: on the 4th floor there are tattoo parlors.
Yezen, owner of Pois Chick ©cameriere ennioAt the former Continental Hotel, ghost offices and trendy bar between administrative past and cultural future: “We even have our Statue of Liberty”
What about after 2025 for this iconic building in the historic center? No project has been decided at this time by the City of Brussels, still looking for buyers. “We hope in any case that we can stay longer,” says a seamstress.
1696702817
#Shops #clothes #tattoo #artists #restaurants #bars.. #visited #Continental #hotel #place #Brouckère #converted #popup #stores #PHOTOS #VIDEO