The Gordael Mill, popularly known as the Spanish House, in the Park of Tervuren will remain closed for the time being. After Copains restaurant also closed, it is the second time in barely six months that managers Kurt and Laetitia have had to close a restaurant. Although there is still hope for the successful burgers.
Just after New Year’s Eve, managers Kurt Singulé and Laetitia Boelens had to say goodbye to their hamburger restaurant Copains along the N3. “According to an expert, there was too great a risk in terms of fire safety of the building due to negligence on the part of the landlord of the building, which meant that it was no longer responsible to operate our business there,” it said at the time. Although both managers were happily expecting, and there were numerous ideas to fully focus on their other business: the Spanish House in the Park of Tervuren. There it was also possible to get Kurt’s award-winning hamburgers, and the Spaans Huis was renamed the Gordaelmolen.
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Unfortunately, the new concept turned out to be short-lived. The Enterprise Court in Leuven ruled on April 18 that the Gordaelmolen was declared bankrupt. “That’s right, although people here still focus too much on the word ‘failure’, while this is part of doing business,” says Kurt and Laetitia. “Since it concerns a concession with the government and no rent, the matter cannot simply be left over, and the only option was to file the books yourself. The construction of the Brussels-Leuven bicycle highway through the park was the decisive factor.”
“This makes our business completely inaccessible and unattractive to park visitors during our high season,” the couple continues. “Public prohibition signs everywhere for both pedestrians and cyclists from every possible access road did not help. Tervuren residents who know the park know a few ways to get to us unscathed. But people from outside Tervuren, the tourists who are our largest source of income, do not know that. Moreover, the catering industry is currently no longer an attractive profession as an entrepreneur, and there is no support at all from the municipality of Tervuren. The Local Economy Council has been disbanded for years and every initiative is mercilessly shot down or thwarted.”
No more catering
There is still hope for the famous hamburgers. “They are part of Smoak, and that is a concept that we have applied at several locations. This can still be done on location, and is therefore not a business, company or company. Currently, Smoak will continue to exist, but we would like to revive it later. We are not thinking about that at the moment, as we are both already back to work elsewhere. But no more catering, we have had that,” Kurt and Laetitia conclude.
Tags: Copains Kurt Laetitia goodbye Gordaelmolen
