Julien Lapraille announced it via social networks in a video in his image, playful and positive. The child of the country, who moved to Bastogne a few months ago, will close permanently Julien’s Market April 30. The grocery store which opened its doors 5 years ago is struggling after Covid. The increase in the price of products and expenses did the rest. “My electricity bills have gone from 850 to 1500€. My charges, overall, have increased by 40% but I have only increased my prices twice and I was sometimes embarrassed to ask for such prices But I can’t work at a loss to please people.”regrets Julien Lapraille.
For the latter, small local shops are no longer popular and this disenchantment is reflected in new closures every day. “It’s the fault of the government, the regions, the consumers, the self-employed. Everyone. We couldn’t anticipate the crisis or manage it. But in the end it’s the consumer who drinks and who doesn’t want to no more putting your hand in the wallet. Before the Covid we had the wind in our sails. Now it’s free fall!”
Approached by the Spar sign
Julien Lapraille could have put the key under the doormat earlier but a proposal prolonged his reflection. “I was approached by the group that manages the Spar brand (Colruyt Group) in Belgium. I had several contacts with the brand, which wanted me to be a franchisee by bringing my image, with the desire to modernize the brand. The discussions lasted 4 to 5 months. With the long-term objective of setting up a Spar store in the Écoquartier. But when Spar presented me with two financial plans, one current and one future, the results were negative. J I was going to lose money no matter what. I don’t think anyone is going to go on this adventure. The store in Marbehan closed in December. I also thought that the closure of Spar would bring me customers back to the grocery store. Well, not even!”
Jean-Michel Zecca closes his restaurant in Waterloo
The former Top Chef candidate was also approached by the promoter of the Écoquartier, which has been talked about for 10 years in Marbehan. “There the price of the rental is unpayable. We are not in Luxembourg city! I do not know who could go in there. I think that Marbehan will unfortunately become a dormitory village. And it is not the local politicians who support the trade. I haven’t had any contact since the grocery store was closed.”
Julien Lapraille will not be bored between the management of the restaurant Le Tchar in Bastogne, his presence at Baudet’Stival, the Libramont Fair and other events, his role as an ambassador for APAQ-W, filming for the Grande Balade on RTL TVI, his weekend capsules end on Bel RTL and his family life.
“I prefer to manage 5 projects at 100% than 7 projects at 80%”, confided Julien, at the end of a shoot for a Flemish channel when we contacted him this Wednesday at the end of the day. When we tell you that he is not idle!