The idea of a shopping outlet in Echternach has been under discussion for several years. The municipality intends to rent currently vacant premises in the town centre and then sublet them to selected brands. On Monday, the municipal council took a first concrete step by approving seven lease agreements.
The contracts run from 1 March or 1 April this year until 29 February 2028. They are divided into two phases: until June 2027, the municipality will pay a reduced rent, as the spaces are to be used for pop-up stores during that period. After that, full market rates will apply, with the aim of bringing in outlet brands.
Rental prices were negotiated individually with each property owner. For example, a 250 square metre shop on Place du Marché will cost €3,000 per month in the first phase and €5,000 in the second. Meanwhile, a 100 square metre shop on Rue de la Gare will be rent-free during the initial phase, rising to €2,150 per month thereafter.
The Greens (déi gréng) have expressed scepticism about the project from the outset. Councillor Christophe Origer argued that the proposed contracts do not sufficiently protect the municipality, warning that it could end up bearing the cost of higher rents if no outlet brands move in after June 2027.
Democratic Party (DP) mayor Carole Hartmann acknowledged that risk, stating that if the municipality is unable to secure outlet tenants by that date, it would indeed have to pay higher rents without guaranteed occupancy. However, she stressed that this was a political decision the council had consciously taken.
Hartmann also clarified that it would still be possible to continue renting out the spaces to pop-up stores beyond June 2027. She rejected claims that the contracts prevent this, explaining that the only restriction concerns not subletting the premises at a higher price during the reduced-rent phase.
In the end, the seven contracts were approved with the votes of the coalition formed by the DP and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), including votes from the opposition party Christian Social People’s Party (CSV), against the two votes from The Greens.
Later, the council also unanimously approved the first three sublease agreements for pop-up stores. These contracts each run for four months, with rents ranging between €560 and €595.
