French supermarket chain Monoprix has relocated one of its Gare district branches into an iconic building on the Avenue de la Liberté, just off the Place de Paris.

Previously, the shop was located in a building complex between Rue du Fort Bourbon and Rue Jean Origer that was once occupied by the Luxemburger Wort.

The new building last housed a bank before standing empty for a long time. The upper floors used to be a Pizza Hut restaurant there, and even older generations may remember that Luxembourg’s very first fast food outlet, a Wimpy restaurant, opened there in 1968.

There are now five Monoprix branches at various locations in Luxembourg City.

It is unclear what will happen to the former retail space in the nearby “am ale Wort” building. Maurice Bauer, alderman for commerce for the City of Luxembourg, was unable to provide any concrete details.

However, Bauer said he was pleased that Monoprix will now have “more visibility” in the Gare neighbourhood, adding that the shop was previously somewhat hidden.

• The future of the “am ale Wort” building is still up in the air © Photo credit: Simone Molitor

• At the moment, the old Monoprix shop is being cleared out © Photo credit: Simone Molitor

• The new branch on Place de Paris has been welcoming customers since 2 March © Photo credit: Simone Molitor

More visibility and an expanded range

Philippe Huger, director of Monoprix Luxembourg, also said that greater visibility was a decisive factor in the relocation decision. According to Huger, extensive construction work is planned for the old building in the railway station district; it could even be demolished. “The owner has big plans, so we couldn’t stay there,” he explained.

“However, as we feel very attached to the Gare district, we were looking for new premises and were happy that this opportunity presented itself. Although the space is somewhat smaller than before, we are now more visible,” he said.

The new shop has some 900 square metres of retail space, whereas the previous location provided 1,200 square metres. “The idea is to remain at the service of our customers,” said Huger, who describes the new store as a Monoprix dernier concept [latest concept]. The product range has been expanded, particularly in the food area.

“And we have prioritised everything that appeals to women: clothing, perfume and cosmetics,” he added. The wine department has also been expanded and now offers a larger selection of quality wines, including French and Luxembourgish vintages.

The shop is open daily from Monday to Saturdays between 08:00 and 20:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 19:00.

(This article was originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Machine translated with editing by Duncan Roberts)