City 2 renovations finally complete

Renovations to the City 2 shopping centre, at the north end of Rue Neuve, are complete, following nearly two years of continuous works. The shopping centre remained open for the entire process, and now customers can finally move around freely in the shiny, new interior.

“We’re very pleased that our customer base remained steady” during renovations, City 2 retail director Sam Perneel told Bruzz. “Some 40,000 people come through City 2 every day. In retail, the old saying ‘location, location, location’ really is true. That’s certainly the case for City 2.”

Besides being on Brussels’ biggest shopping street, City 2 borders Place Rogier and sits above the Rogier metro. There are 100 shops and eateries inside, including a few new ones that chose to move in because of the renovations. New outlets includes sneaker retailer Courrier and Five Guys hamburgers – reportedly Barack Obama’s favourite burger joint.

The renovations include new flooring, railings, surfaces and facelifts for shop fronts, as well as letting in natural lighting. A whole new food court opened up earlier this year.

The new City 2 “has a roomy feel to it,” one shopper told Bruzz, “and that works well when there’s a lot of people here.” Another said that the food court is “fantastic,” and that “there’s no longer a strong smell hanging in the air. It’s much better than before. Much more modern.”

Barack Obama hasn’t visited City 2 yet, confirmed Perneel, “but it’s only a matter of time”.

Photo courtesy AG Real Estate