Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Topolino, Leuven’s carnival and fireworks shop, will close on March 31, 2026, after 39 years. Owner Chantal Jacobs retires following a knee injury, ending decades of service to generations of residents.
As VRT News reported, Topolino, the well-known carnival and fireworks shop in Leuven, is closing after 39 years. In the week before New Year’s Eve, the store on Parisstraat is crowded with customers. People come to buy fireworks and party supplies one last time.
Many also stop to say goodbye to the shop they have visited for decades. One man leaves with enough fireworks to last the next 2 years. Before leaving, he turns to owner Chantal Jacobs and wishes her a happy retirement.
“Hopefully, see you again,”
he says to owner Chantal Jacobs.
“And enjoy your retirement!”
What’s next for Topolino in Leuven as it closes after 39 years?
For Chantal Jacobs, the closure is an emotional moment. She has run Topolino for nearly 40 years. Officials mentioned that the shop has been a familiar stop for carnival celebrations, parties, and New Year’s events.
“In a way, I’m looking forward to more time with my friends and family, but mentally, I could have continued working in the shop for years to come. Unfortunately, life decided otherwise. A while ago, I fell down the basement stairs in the shop. Two surgeries later, my knee is still too bad to continue. I was heartbroken for a while, but now I’ve made peace with it,”
Chantal Jacobs said.
Topolino, the long-running carnival and party shop in Leuven, will close for the last time on March 31st, 2025.
“My clients couldn’t believe it,”
says Chantal.
“I have clients who came here as children and have since become parents or grandparents. The great thing is that we have such a diverse clientele. For example, I have a good relationship with drag queens who buy makeup here. I even heard from one person that our chat was more helpful than a session with the psychologist.”
Today, almost 40 years later, Topolino has served generations of customers who return year after year for carnival, parties, and New Year’s celebrations.
“I’d love that, but I’m a bit apprehensive,”
says Chantal.
“I’m selling the building, along with the apartment above. If I rented it out, it would be easier to find a buyer. We’ll see who comes along.”
In 1987, Topolino was established on Parijsstraat in Leuven by Chantal Jacobs, who was a psychiatric nurse at the time. Having acted before and knowing that there was a demand for carnival shops, Chantal desired a career change and decided to open Topolino with limited stock consisting of hats and masks to start with, and gradually became larger through continued growth.
