Kortrijk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The K shopping centre in Kortrijk reached its 15-year milestone this year. The marketplace has undergone significant changes throughout the last 15 years. The shopping centre K has struggled to keep spaces occupied in recent years.
The Kortrijk shopping centre K celebrates its 15th anniversary this year after overcoming rising space problems. Manager Dominique Desmeytere explains the resilience of the center as it welcomed 5 million visitors during 2022, which matched the visitor count from before the pandemic. Desmeytere emphasises the centre’s adaptability, stating,
“We continue to have our impact, but perhaps in a different way than before.”
The centre marks its 15th year by showing its capacity to transform in an ever-changing retail market.
At the moment, the top floor of the shopping centre is almost empty.
“But still, about 5 million visitors come here every year,”
Says manager Desmeytere.
“Last year, even 10 % more people came by compared to the year before. We are now back to the level before corona. So we continue to have our impact, but perhaps in a different way than before.”
“There is reason to celebrate, in any case. Running an indoor shopping centre for 15 years is not easy. Society has changed, as has the city centre. We are obliged to evolve with it.”
In order to survive, ‘K’ focuses more on events.
“We want to focus more on experience, which can be done through events. But I’m also thinking about services or education. We have space on the 2nd floor. Why wouldn’t classes be taught here? That would be a nice solution. In any case, it brings extra people to the city center.”
What is the history of K in Kortrijk’s 15-year journey?
K in Kortrijk has struggled with high vacancy rates and changing customer purchasing habits since its opening 15 years ago as a major shopping destination in Belgium.
The Kortrijk retail environment has had a significant impact as the city centre now operates with a vacancy level that has reached close to 20% in recent years. K in Kortrijk continues to retain importance by welcoming 5 million customers every year, which looks similar to the attendance before the pandemic started.
The centre adopts experiential retail approaches with events and educational possibilities as a reflection of retail industry changes, which redirect traditional shopping areas toward modern consumer needs. The centre exhibits adaptive capabilities that help it transform the city centre while attracting visitors and supporting local economic growth.
