“That’s the end of the story.” It was with these words that the shopping center announced the sad news to its businesses on Tuesday. After several years, the center will close its doors by next summer.
A decision greeted with fatalism by the dozen shops that occupy the center, which has been empty for years. “The fewer stores there are, the more customers we have,” explains a trader to Nieuwsblad.
While the future of the center is now sealed, questions are plaguing traders. “We are running well and many people have been working there for a long time. If they have to look for another job, they have plenty of time to do so,” explains one of them.
“No further communication”
For its part, AG Real Estate, the owner of the center, does not wish to dwell on this closure. “We are in the process of reanalyzing the redevelopment of the complex,” he reacts. “We do this in collaboration with the mayor and the town planning and economic services of the city of Ghent. We are considering a major redevelopment. At this time, we are not authorized to communicate further.”
Mathias De Clerq, the mayor of Ghent, plans with the N-VA to install technological companies, hotels, commerce and nightlife in this area.
Business
