Beer Mania in Brussels closing?

Nasser Eftekhari of the shop Beer Mania in Brussels has pinged his email list with an "SOS" message that his landlord wants him out. I know that a fair number of BAs have stepped into his Ixelles storefront and (after you get to know each other) benefitted from good conversation, pointed suggestions and up-to-date info on what's new. He has a petition (here https://www.lapetition.be/en-ligne/Sos-beer-mania-14450.html) in hopes that a show of support will somehow cut any ice in, essentially, a commercial decision. (Maybe the building owner wants to do something else in a tentatively redeveloping neighborhood.)

 

I think those are meant to be taken with a sense of humor, like a restaurant menu with 100 bottles of wine from $50-200, and 2 at the end for $5000.

 

Actually, I may as well address the pricing question in general. Obviously it's been an issue over the years... First, I don't base expectations on the online pricing, which isn't really his business, just a high-cost and high-effort service. Secondly, I have always counseled avoiding the Trappists and such there, since you can get in the supermarket for a much smaller markup. Other stuff is certainly priced higher than the quasi-wholesalers, but this simply reflects the cost structure of a one-man-band having to trek around to buy stuff in small quantities, and sell in smaller quantities, while paying rent in a large retail space of a crowded neighborhood.

 

An update in English gives a bit more detail about the petition to get the municipality to help find a new home for it: http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=fde30941e7901ff434d804d14&id=221f237542&e=3cd0400ae0

 

Saved! He worked out another storage area and the shop remains in full swing. With the turning of the weather I'm going to have to run by there and stock up on some saisons and such.