Madame Moustache manager warns closure is possible

With popular night venues Bonnefooi, Spi-rito, Reset and La Cabane already closed or on their way out, the iconic Madame Moustache may be the next club to say goodbye, its owner has warned.

Located near Place Sainte-Catherine, the 1960s-inspired dance cafe, which first opened in 2010, describes itself as an “alternative club experience”.

Like all hospitality venues, it suffered during the Covid-19 shutdowns. Then, in 2022, a major fire forced it to close for two years while renovation work took place.

The renovation took a heavy toll on the club’s owner Maud Partouche, who told Bruzz that she had put her “last pennies” into the project. Needing to pay for two judicial reorganisation procedures increased the mountain of debt even more.

“We had a lot of bad luck and the insurance company did not intervene sufficiently,” Partouche told Bruzz. “Although we are still profitable, it is almost impossible to stay open any longer with these debts.”

She said the pressure on nightlife is happening not only in Brussels, but also all over Europe. “Customers are consuming less alcohol and costs such as rent, utilities and taxes are becoming more expensive.”

The need to cover these costs has led Partouche to look for help. “We are looking for partners who want to step into the story of our business. We may also launch a crowdfunding campaign. Anything to keep Madame Moustache alive.”

The club is remaining hopeful and looking for creative ways to survive, she said. “We are open seven days a week and have reduced our team to two people. During the week we are a dance cafe and on the weekend a club.”

In addition to seeking investors, she is joining forces with other partners. “We are going to work together with various organisations so that we can organise more theme nights and involve food in our business. This will broaden our community and hopefully allow us to grow financially again.”

In general, the traditional nightclub model is no longer sustainable, according to management at the Watermael-Boitsfort club La Cabane which announced its closure last month.

It follows similar news from Bonnefooi café and Spir-ito club. Stringent regulations, especially regarding noise control, coupled with rising costs, were cited as key factors behind the decision to close.

The Brussels By Night organisation has warned of an impending “collapse of the Brussels club scene” and urged the Brussels region to invest in supporting the sector.