Café Chez Liza will not continue as a permanent neighborhood café after its summer pop-up run ended, as founders cited a strained relationship with the local authorities and a police raid.
- Investment recovery: Founders invested several thousand euros in electricity and plumbing, hoping to partially recoup those costs.
- Municipal fallout: The local council voted in September to prematurely terminate a 2024 convention for free space usage.
- Future pivots: All three business partners maintain separate primary jobs and plan to launch a hospitality concept elsewhere.
The project began when Philip Swinnen and two friends launched Chez Liza as a temporary summer pop-up with plans to transition into a permanent neighborhood café after the season, BRUZZ reported. The venue took its name from the nearby Elisabethpark.
During the warmer months, the venue drew strong local enthusiasm by capitalizing on football tournament crowds. At times, visitors could barely squeeze inside the establishment.
Plans initially involved closing after the summer to execute extensive renovations. However, those construction phases never materialized.
“We besloten om niet verder te gaan met het project,” Swinnen told BRUZZ. “Dat gaat puur over ons gevoel. De relatie met de gemeente verliep wat stroever dan verwacht. Dat gaat over kleine dingen. We vroegen bijvoorbeeld een vergunning voor een terras aan, want het was 30 graden, maar die is er nooit gekomen.”
Shortly after the pop-up closed, police executed a raid at the non-profit organization office located directly above the café.
Authorities sealed the entire building from late July through early September.
The Brussels parquet office remained unreachable for further details regarding that specific investigation. Meanwhile, the municipality of Koekelberg issued a formal response addressing the partnership breakdown.
The cabinet of mayor Olivia P’Tito (PS) said that a convention was established in 2024 with the non-profit organization behind Chez Liza providing free use of the space. The municipal council decided in September to terminate that agreement early because essential arrangements went unfulfilled, and public order and safety were compromised following the aforementioned events.
“Wij vinden dit erg jammer, want de gemeente heeft er altijd alles aan gedaan om dit project te ondersteunen,” the mayor’s cabinet told BRUZZ.
The founding trio had already deployed several thousand euros into electrical wiring and plumbing updates.
| Project Phase | Status | Operational Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Pop-Up | Completed | High local engagement and strong football crowds |
| Renovation Phase | Canceled | Full bar installation halted before execution |
| Municipal Agreement | Terminated | Free space convention revoked by council vote in September |
Swinnen and his two co-founders maintain separate primary employment alongside their entrepreneurial ventures. They intend to pursue alternative hospitality concepts in different locations.
“We hebben hier zalige weken gehad en het draaide goed,” Swinnen told BRUZZ. “Maar omdat het gevoel op de langere termijn niet goed zit, besloten we niet verder te gaan. We zoeken nu naar een nieuw project.”
