Eataly’s arrival in Brussels draws closer

The opening of an Eataly food temple in the centre of Brussels is getting closer: the redevelopment project where the Italian deli supermarket is to be located, has been given the green light.

Works start next year

The first rumours that Italian Eataly would come to Brussels, already date back to 2019. However, the project has become more concrete that the local government has given the green light for the redevelopment project The Dome, in the Brussels pedestrian zone.

In that building on the corner of Place de la Bourse and Boulevard Anspach, which once housed the department store ‘Les Grands Magasins de la Bourse’, developers VDD Project Development and Vervoordt r.e. are planning a multifunctional project of 21,000 sqm with retail, restaurants, offices and residences. Work will start in the first quarter of 2023 and would take two to three years.

Delhaize also present

Eataly will occupy part of the ground floor and the entire first floor of the project, accounting for 3,500 sqm of Italian food experience. It will be a food court with restaurants, pubs, an Italian fresh food supermarket and a training centre. Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize will also move into the renovated building, with a new urban concept on the ground floor and a supermarket in the basement on 2,200 sqm.

Slow food concept Eataly – a contraction of Eat and Italy – was founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti. The first branch opened in Turin in 2007, and since then the chain has a presence in major cities such as London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, Sao Paolo, Seoul and Stockholm. The company also opened a 100,000 sqm Italian food theme park in Bologna, under the name FICO Eataly World.