Murdered manager's Schaerbeek cafe set to reopen

Three long-time friends are taking over a Schaerbeek cafe whose owner, Diana, was violently stabbed to death in the venue by her ex-partner in December 2024.

Antoine, Antonin and Raphael, making a childhood dream come true, want to restore the former Cafe Ruya on Avenue du Diamant to its former glory.

The thirty-somethings met the victim’s sister, who was touched by their commitment to reinvigorate the popular local hangout. She wanted to pass the bar on to people who shared Diana’s vision as an establishment open to the neighbourhood and a real meeting place.

Since receiving the keys at the end of October, the new owners have met many of the cafe's former regulars, despite it not yet being open to the public. They are local residents or curious people who want to see what will become of the place.

“Lots of people are already popping their heads through the door,” explains Antoine. “We’ve realised that people are coming to us quite naturally.

“They tell us their stories about this place, how they knew Diana, how they grew up in this bar. So, we really feel that it is an integral part of this neighbourhood. We’re really excited about continuing all that.”

Antoine, Antonin and Raphaël had wanted to switch careers and move into the hospitality industry for some time. They stumbled upon the business, which was up for sale, quite by chance, and quickly fell in love with the place and its location.

While maintaining the spirit instilled at the time by its now-deceased owner, they intend to bring their own personalities to the venture. The idea is to turn the cafe into a bistro where people can eat lunch and dinner as well as host occasional events.

The three friends still have work to do before Bistro Mousse can be opened permanently. They hope to welcome the general public through its doors in February.