The carnage in the Brussels nightlife sector continues unabated. Following the closure of the Bonnefooi, the Spirito, the Reset and La Cabane, it may now be the turn of another iconic venue, Madame Moustache. Owner Maud Partouche has sounded the alarm.
Madame Moustache is located in the heart of the Brussels Old Town, on the Brandhoutkaai, near the Sint-Katelijneplein. It is a dance café that has experienced a turbulent few years of late. Nine months after the mandatory closure during Covid, a fire broke out, forcing the business to close for two years.
Manager Maud Partouche put her last pennies into the renovation. Repayments on two judicial procedures made the mountain of debt even higher.
‘We've had a lot of bad luck and the insurance company didn't cover enough of the costs. Even though we're profitable, with these debts it's almost impossible to stay open any longer,’ Partouche told Brussels media outlet BRUZZ.
Search for investors
Brussels’s nightlife is under pressure. This is true for the Belgian and Flemish capital, but Partouche sees it happening all over Europe. ‘Customers are consuming less and less alcohol, while costs such as rent, utilities and taxes are constantly rising.’
Covering these costs is an extremely difficult task for the dance hall, Partouche explains. That is why she is looking for investors. ‘We are looking for partners who want to get involved in our business. We may also launch a crowdfunding campaign. Anything to keep Madame Moustache alive!’
Hotspot of the future
Madame Moustache remains hopeful and continues to look for creative ways to revive the business. ‘We are open seven days a week and have reduced our team to two people. During the week, we are a dance café and at the weekend, we are a club. This is how we hope to become a cultural hotspot for the future.’
In addition to potential investors, Partouche is also joining forces with other partners. ‘We are going to collaborate with various organisations so that we can organise more theme nights and incorporate food into our business. This will broaden our community and hopefully enable us to grow financially’.