Armed with its experience during the restructuring of the City2 and The Mint shopping centres in the city centre, in September 2019 AG Real Estate began major alterations in the Westland shopping centre in Anderlecht.
Armed with its experience during the restructuring of the City2 and The Mint shopping centres in the city centre, in September 2019 AG Real Estate began major alterations in the Westland shopping centre in Anderlecht. The aim of these renovations is to give the centre a new identity, enhance its appeal and broaden its retail offerings, particularly for customers operating in food & beverage and entertainment.
When the work is complete, this well known shopping centre in the west of Brussels will offer a total floor area of 50,000 m² and a new, more vibrant identity, repositioned with a focus on the “Live, Shop, Play” customer experience.
Work is progressing well and the initial results of this new positioning are coming to fruition. The 'new' Westland centre is attracting and welcoming the following brands:
Intersport: The sports brand with the slogan "Le sport, la plus belle rencontre” [Sport, the greatest meeting] very recently set up its first store in Brussels and currently occupies a retail unit of more than 2,700 m².
Courir: This French store specialising in sneakers has been occupying 250 m² since the summer. This is a confirmation of its confidence in AG Real Estate by selecting a third retail unit from its portfolio.
Burger King: The famous American fast-food chain is joining the retail portfolio of AG Real Estate and has moved into premises of 600 m².
O’Tacos: This fast-food chain specialising in French-style tacos has just opened its 270 m² store, featuring a terrace.
Hawaiian Poké Bowl: Established mainly in Flanders, the Hawaiian Poké Bowl chain, which offers a revolution in healthy food, has selected 110 m² in the heart of Westland for its first outlet in Brussels. It is scheduled to open in the next few months.
English Home: This Turkish brand, whose slogan is "The best for my home, English Home", specialises in interior design and will add to the mix at Westland shopping centre with a store measuring more than 250 m². A first in Belgium!
Pick Quick, the historic Westland pub, has also confirmed its intention to embrace the new concept developed by AG Real Estate, by signing a new lease that will allow its owner, Mr Dirk Buysens, to expand into 350 m² of floor space. It is currently engaged in a complete restructuring of the premises.
Delhaize: The driving force behind this neighbourhood shopping centre, the supermarket will roll out its new concept in a new space of no less than 4,000 m² in the extension built for this purpose. It is due to open in the summer of 2021.
Leisure centre: MI12 and KIKO Consult have signed a lease to set up the largest leisure centre in the capital. With a floor area of 4,000 m², this multi-purpose space will offer activities that are unique in Belgium, aimed at both children and adults. Opening scheduled for 2022.
This marketing drive is a boost to AG Real Estate’s development and its desire to revitalise the neighbourhood. Astrid Flamand, Senior Transaction & Development Manager - Retail at AG Real Estate, in charge of the redevelopment of Westland shopping centre, confirms: "Through these alterations, we have succeeded in meeting the main challenges facing the retail sector: transforming an operational centre shopping, minimising the nuisance to traders and residents, and offering new retailers a retail mix that meets the needs of our customers in an ideal location. We are particularly proud of our teams’ efforts and of our initial successes. This inspires confidence in Westland’s ability to maintain its position in the future as a major asset within our portfolio."
About AG Real Estate
AG Real Estate, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AG Insurance, is an integrated property operator active in Belgium, France, Luxembourg and on certain select European markets with expertise in different lines of business: Asset & Property Management, Development & Construction Management, PPP and real estate financing, as well as in Car Park Management through its subsidiary Interparking.
A company active in urban real estate, AG Real Estate has more than 250 employees with varied profiles and areas of expertise. With a portfolio of more than €6.5 billion under management for its own account and on behalf of third parties, AG Real Estate is endeavouring to provide a responsible response to new urban needs and to implement a sustainable development policy as to make its projects even more meaningful.
