2023-12-31 11:30:00
The Tubize Outlet Mall, or TOM for acronym lovers, is the complex planned on the former site of the Clabecq forges. With more than 800 homes and 80 brands dedicated to branding, there are many questions regarding the future of the Betcharde city. Besides mobility, already very complicated where everyone hopes for the arrival of the future bypass, another point remains in mind: the consequences of the TOM for the traders of Tubize. Between hopes, doubts and concerns, they await the arrival of the outlet complex to take a stand like Saint Thomas, who only believes what he sees, as Isabelle, the center’s lingerie merchant, suggests to us.
Dozens of outlet stores, 800 housing units, 6,000 m² of leisure, 9,500 m² of urban agriculture…: the “Tubize Outlet Mall” is emerging (VIDEO)
“I can’t wait to see what this will be like” is the first comment we get. Sofia is not worried regarding the presence of the Mall for her solar bench store, located in the city center. But even if her business is not likely to be directly affected, she is worried regarding mobility: “I’m afraid that Tubize will triple in volume”.
A little further away, Raphaël has just opened a small store, also selling markdowns, selling items dedicated to basketball. Both manager of the club and creator of the academy, the desire of his store is to allow young Tubizians and fans of the orange ball. The creation of this small brand is above all to help “revitalize the center”. And regarding the arrival of TOM, “We are not afraid because our store is designed more for young people in the region”. But if Raphaël believes that the TOM is a good project, he reminds us that the Tubize center should not be neglected: “A center remains a center, it must be accessible to all”.
Raphaël and Julie launched a basketball equipment outlet store. ©DR
For Isabelle, a household appliances trader, the problem remains uncertainty. Even if she thinks that the TOM can do good for the center, she points out the lack of transparency on future brands: “We do not know the future brands of the Mall, the secret is kept and, to have a little more information , several of us went to see the mayor.” If Isabelle is not too worried regarding possible competition between her store, established for 30 years, and an equivalent in TOM, she is worried regarding her neighbors, particularly those specializing in clothing. Same story for her client, Isabella, hairdresser in Tubize, who emphasizes that if the TOM can attract customers, it can “kill” certain traders.
Isabelle returns to the conversation she and other traders had with Mayor Michel Januth (PS). She explains to us, just as Commerce alderman Mourad Abdelali (Défi) did in one of our previous articles, that a mixed economic company (SEM) will be created. She will be responsible for connecting the TOM and local businesses. In addition, shuttles are planned between the city center and the new complex.
In Tubize, sales and the arrival of the Mall change the organization of shops
Passing through a lingerie store, Isabelle, the manager, is worried regarding the coming of the Mall. Like its neighbors, doubt looms and everything depends on the presence or not in the complex of a lingerie boutique “and it will depend on the brands that this new brand offers, if they are the same as mine, I would be worried to do to me”. The secret being well kept, the only way to imagine which businesses will make up the TOM is to compare with what is done elsewhere such as Massmechelen Village. When browsing the brands, clothing, shoes, bags and other accessories seem to make up the entirety of the products offered. To see if the TOM will follow this trend, and for that we will have to wait until September 2024, if all goes well.
Isabelle is between doubts and hopes regarding the TOM. We will have to see if her lingerie store competes with another. ©DR
To end our tour, we meet Natascha. Running a store for a famous chocolate brand, she tells us that she is going to open a second counter in the TOM: “In any case, there was going to be one so it was me or someone else”. But Natascha intends to keep the two stores open, one in the TOM and keep the one in the center: “I think we will see a reduction in our turnover for a year, a year and a half, but following that it will be fine. ‘to balance”. However, she criticizes the municipality for having put the cart before the horse: “The project has existed for years, it would first have been necessary to revitalize the center. Tubizians are already going elsewhere, we must encourage them to stay here.” But despite this error of approach, Natascha is convinced that the Outlet Mall will do good for Tubize especially since “there are already people who want the Outlet”.
One thing is certain following our visit, the Tubize Outlet Mall is on everyone’s lips. But if everyone has their fears, criticisms and hopes, it is still too early to measure the consequences of the TOM on local commerce. See you in September 2024…
Natascha intends to keep the two counters open, one in the TOM, the other in the city center. ©DR
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