The main pedestrian street in Esch-sur-Alzette continues to attract shoppers despite the challenges faced by multi-generational businesses, who emphasise the need for innovation and support to maintain its vibrancy.
Esch's Rue de l'Alzette was converted into a pedestrian zone in the early '90s, but is it still an attractive shopping destination 30 years on? Our colleagues from RTL went to the Minette metropolis to find out what local business people think about Luxembourg's longest shopping street.
Multi-generational businesses
Over the years, numerous stores have disappeared or been replaced while others managed to remain stalwart for decades. One of these is the Hirsch-Glesener jewellery store, which has been in Esch-sur-Alzette since 1911 and has been owned by the same family for four generations. Manager Nicolas Kremer, who also serves as president of the Esch business association, reminisces: "In the past you had more industry here, Arbed was here. People purchased in abundance. Then there was the steel crisis in the '80s which slowed things down, but we are still here. Esch is a city with a lot of residents, that's helped us to continue existing."
Anne Diderich of the Librairie Diderich, which opened in 1945 and is run by the third generation, says Esch is still an attractive destination: "I can imagine that a lot of young families will come back to live in Esch. It has a lot to offer and I think it helps keep the city vibrant and alive. All this Esch-bashing is upsetting to me as as a business owner."
Room for improvement
It is true that a number of storefronts are shuttered in the city, which does not leave the best impression, but this phenomenon is not restricted to Esch by any means, says Gusty Lispi. He runs the Scala Music Centre, a shop which has stood in Esch for the past 75 years. "If you visit Thionville, which isn't far away, you'll see the same thing. There are a lot of shops which have closed all of a sudden and the issue is, young people don't really have the courage to open a store these days", Lispi explains.
Many family-run shops are struggling to find direct successors, which then leads to more closures, often leaving premises standing empty for months on end. Another issue is the fact that rents are increasingly high. Serge Daniel Kaboré, who opened a shop on rue de l'Alzette with his wife three years ago, agrees with this assessment. In order for a shop to survive, it cannot focus only on products, but also on customer service, so it can compete with online commerce.
Business owners in Esch say the city could offer more to attract a younger clientele, such as children, with more diversity. In addition, there could be more opportunities for customers to make use of free parking.
