A new hyper? New at Aldi and Lidl
The big highlight of the year could be the opening of the new Cactus hypermarket in Esch-Lallange. Under construction in the country’s second city through a mixed project “combining commerce, leisure and housing”, the complex of more than 58,000 m² is taking shape. Few details are known, however: Cactus refrains from any comments or responses, but nevertheless indicates that an “official opening date has now been set”. No additional clue, even if it should be in the second half of the year, if we are to believe the announcement made by Oberweis about its future store located within the complex.
A rendering of the mixed complex built by Cactus in Esch-Lallange. © PHOTO: BFF…
In collaboration with the CFL, Cactus is also planning the opening of the second CFL Cactus Shoppi concept in the country at Mersch station. In its recently released 2025 presentation brochure, Cactus mentioned the opening of five new Shoppi “over the next two years”.
For its part, Delhaize will soon have two new locations in the capital, replacing the Alima stores in the city center and Belair. The Pommerloch store will undergo a “remodeling” between January and April, the group announced.
Aldi announces the construction of a new store in Marnach (this is a move since the brand is already established in the town). Work will begin in June 2025 and the opening is planned for the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026. The stores in Sandweiler, Bertrange and Capellen should have a new layout.
Lidl will open a brand new store on February 26 in Mersch, not far from the Topaze Shopping Center. A few weeks earlier, on January 3 and 4, Lidl will conduct interviews there to recruit its future staff.
Auchan has not planned an opening. The same goes for Colruyt. Action does not wish to communicate (even if it is announced in the Gare district).
2025, a busy year for the hotel industry
While the decline in the number of hotels in Luxembourg over 30 years is documented, the coming year is rich in terms of hotel infrastructure openings. Very rich indeed.
The year will begin with the long-awaited commissioning of the Anatura Hotel in Weiswampach. The Lamy group has built 90 4-star standard rooms there.
In the spring, another old file should see its conclusion with the opening of the Alfa Hotel, opposite the central station. The Marriott group recently communicated about a new postponement. 153 rooms, a gym and five meeting rooms are planned in the building. Also in spring, but in a more luxurious register, the superb Villa Pétrusse should open its doors on Avenue Marie-Thérèse, with 22 rooms.
At Cloche d’Or, delivery of the first Luxembourg establishment of the B&B Hotels chain is scheduled for the second quarter. The opening of the 150-room hotel should take place in July. In the summer, we also expect the first steps of the XNOTO hotel and its 133 rooms within the GRIDX complex in Wickrange.
In the city center of the capital, the Hôtel des Postes, a project led by Post Luxembourg and the Artea hotel group (future operator of locations under the Storia brand), remains hopeful of opening before the end of the year.
What about, finally, the project of the German hotel group Numa in Hamm? There was talk of 134 properties to be rented as part of a 100% digitalized customer experience and an opening in the second half of 2024. The latter seems postponed to 2025, even if Numa, contacted by Commarefuses to comment.
Elsewhere in the Greater Region
On the Belgian side, in Arlon, the Van Der Valk Luxembourg hotel is due to inaugurate its new 2,500 m² wellness & fitness center. In France, in Metz, Maison Heler, the hotel designed by Philippe Stark, is due to open in March.
Restaurants and food halls
Goodbye The Distillery, hello Fields. From Bourglinster Castle to Findel, starred chef René Mathieu will embark on a new chapter in his gastronomic journey by taking over the restaurant of the Airfield hotel. The opening of the new establishment is scheduled for January 15.
A file which is dragging on and whose costs are increasing, the brewery in the Parc du Ban de Gasperich should finally open its doors in May, according to the latest estimates. In Ville Haute, rue Chimay, “Munchies”, the new project of the De Toffol brothers (Partigiano, Bella Cia, Haerz), is expected at the start of the year. The very popular Chiche! brand, which already has six locations in the country, is also planning a future opening in Ettelbruck.
Munchies will open in place of Downtown Coffee, at 12 rue Chimay. © PHOTO: Christophe Lemaire
Let us then note that several of the hotel projects presented above will be accompanied by spaces dedicated to catering: the starred chef Yves Mattagne will manage an establishment within the Anatura; Le Lys will be managed at Villa Pétrusse by starred chef Kim Kevin de Dood; the emblematic Alfa brasserie will be reborn completely renovated at the same time as the Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa which hosts it in the Gare district; two restaurants are to open at the Hôtel des Postes.
A popular concept in shopping centers, the food hall or food court continues to attract followers. In Esch-sur-Alzette, Belval Plaza plans to open such a restaurant space at the end of the first quarter. In Wickrange, GRIDX will also focus on a vast area of 1,500 m² entirely dedicated to catering: 12 corners giving pride of place to world cuisines and a gourmet brasserie are planned on the site inaugurated in September.
Finally, let us note, at Findel, that the Skypark Business Center, where the Moxy Hotel was opened last September, is intended to accommodate a shopping mall where catering should be present.
