Ixelles, Belgium—A former parking garage on rue Saint-Boniface is undergoing a vibrant transformation into “Ratz,” a 3,000-square-meter food market aiming to redefine the dining experience with a unique blend of culinary offerings and entertainment. The space, featuring a ground floor and two additional levels, is set to open its doors this Thursday, February 19, after three years of development.
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Restaurant Creations
Upon entering “Ratz,” visitors will immediately encounter a bar designed to echo its origins as a parking structure. “Our goal is to make nods to the parking lot, the original location,” explains the founder. “This is why we have car parts integrated into the contour of the bar and we are going to spray asphalt on top to create a Walloon road with potholes.” The bar will offer a bottle-free experience, featuring cans, barrels, house wine, ice tea, kombucha, and house cocktails served directly from barrels, alongside a local craft beer, “Ratz,” brewed by the Schaerbeek brewery, la Mule.
What makes “Ratz” different from other food markets? It’s the focus on creating an immersive experience, blending unique food concepts with entertainment options like exhibitions, comedy shows, and a mini-cinema.
The market’s diverse food offerings will be presented within uniquely themed spaces. The “Middle East” section, for example, will be decorated with Moroccan tiles and will host five concepts operated by chef Georges Beautiful Sar Sar, known for his My Tannour restaurants. Sar Sar stated, “We tried to respect the spirit of there.” Thierry Goor notes that “In a food market, two stands are essential: burgers and Italian food,” which will be served from a food truck and a market truck, respectively.
In total, fourteen food stands will populate “Ratz,” including an Asian section featuring five chefs, including Sang Hoon Degeimbre, who will helm the Korean store. The founder emphasized a desire to emulate the atmosphere of Asian street food stalls and Lebanese souks, creating a truly unique dining environment.
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An “Eatertainment” Place
While the ground and first floors will be dedicated to dining, the second floor will host an events section. Thierry Goor believes it’s crucial to innovate and offer a food market experience unlike any other in Belgium. “We never start from what we want to do, we start from what the client wants to do, what they are looking for. And today, the customer is looking for experiences,” he says.
“Ratz” aims to deliver “eatertainment”—a fusion of food and entertainment. The second floor will feature exhibitions, happenings, a comedy club, design meetings, and a mini-cinema. Ten weekends are already booked for vintage markets. The founder hopes to make a significant impact in the revitalized Ixelles hospitality district, particularly attracting a younger demographic aged 18 to 25.
