Economato Español

The façade of the first Brussels Midi railway station (1869) was on what is today Rue de l’Argonne. The station itself was a terminal: passengers travelling from south to north had to walk or take the coach or tram to the old Gare du Nord railway station on Place Rogierplein in order to proceed by train from there. The station was perfectly oriented for this: the monumental entrance with its triumphal arch opened onto Place de la Constitution, which connected easily with the current Avenue de Stalingrad and the central boulevards.

In 1950, a second Brussels Midi station became part of the north-south connection. Place de la Constitution largely disappeared under the imposing railway viaduct on your right, and what remained of it became even more desolate when the tram was also re-routed under the square in 1958. Only on Sundays does the colourful Midi Market bring some life to the spot.

In the 1950s, Brussels Midi was the gateway to the city for Spanish guest workers. They first settled in the immediate vicinity of the station, and later spread out to the surrounding districts of Marolles, Saint-Gilles and Cureghem. The shop Economato Español (1963) is one of the relics of this Spanish presence. The grocery has been passed from mother to daughter, and stocks quality products from all over Spain.

UiTinBrussel