Around one thousand shops have disappeared in the Brussels region in the past decade. Some are being replaced by catering establishments, but the number of vacant premises is rising.
Inflation, rising energy and labour costs, but also a changing city, are making it more difficult for shops to stay afloat. In the past ten years, more than one thousand shops have disappeared from the streets of the Belgian capital.
The region now has 10% fewer shops than in 2013, from 9,704 to 8,700 premises, De Tijd and Bruzz reported based on figures from the research firm Locatus. The biggest drop is in electrical shops, but many clothing and shoe stores have also disappeared.
In the City of Brussels, the number of shops fell by 12%, while in Ixelles, previously seen as the key shopping district, this figure is as high as 17%.
While the Covid-19 crisis was an economic shock for many physical stores, a big change had been noticeable even before the pandemic. Independent boutiques were already succumbing to competition from shopping centres and online shops as well as chains and large retailers.
Lack of diversity
The higher vacancy rate this is resulting in is partly offset by an opposite trend: more and more catering establishments are opening.
Where once upon a time books, shoes, bras and unique clothes were sold, the space is now taken over by bars and restaurants where people come to enjoy ramen or bubble tea. Restaurant branches such as spaghetti concept Bavet, Balls & Glory or de Wasbar are also slowly taking over.
This is raising concerns that there will be a limited diversity in what is offered to consumers. In the pedestrian zone of the City of Brussels, fast-food outlets were advancing so fast that the councillor for commerce Fabian Maingain (Défi) intervened to stop the "hamburgerisation" of the centre.
But in some cases, the premises are not filled at all, resulting in glaring empty spaces. In the City of Brussels alone, the number of empty premises rose by some 57% between 2013 and 2023, representing some 13% of all commercial premises.
