A chocolate shop in the Huidenstraat has to be closed by the municipality because the business behaves like a catering business and not a retail store. After several complaints from the neighborhood, the municipality carried out several checks. The entrepreneur was given the opportunity to adjust the case, but was unable to do so.
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Several residents of the Nine Streets had submitted a complaint to the municipality about the fact that shops in their neighborhood are increasingly turning into catering. The municipality has carried out inspections in the area in response to the complaints. It turned out that the chocolate shop was used as a coffee shop and lunchroom. There were several tables and chairs inside and outside the store, the store had menus and customers could enjoy the coffee on the spot.
The owner of the chocolate shop has been given several opportunities by the municipality to adjust the business operations, but has not succeeded in doing so. As a result, the doors of the case have to be closed. The entrepreneur can submit a plan to the municipality and if that plan shows that the store will adhere to the rules of the zoning plan from now on, the doors may open again.
“Shopping diversity is under pressure”
The municipality notices that the dividing line between shops and catering is blurring too much. “The diversity of the retail offer is already under considerable pressure in the city centre. So we have to intervene where we can, otherwise we will lose our grip on the city. Moreover, it is also not fair to catering entrepreneurs who do adhere to the rules,” he said. chairman of the executive board Alexander Scholtes.
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