Delhaize set to turn Ghent church into supermarket, wine bar and restaurant
The Delhaize supermarket chain is set to begin renovating the Sint-Anna church in Ghent, to turn it into a shop, restaurant and wine bar. The work should be finished by the autumn of 2027.
The project has been under discussion for years, with criticism from locals and heritage enthusiasts. The church, which dates from 1867 and is the same age as the supermarket chain, is owned by the city but has been neglected for years. There is visible moisture damage inside and outside the building, including to the neo-Byzantine frescoes.
Delhaize has been granted a 99-year lease and has now obtained the necessary permits to repurpose the building. Its intention is to preserve as many of the historical elements as possible and make them visible to customers, the architects say.
“I understand that some people are emotional about this, and rightly so because it is an important piece of our city’s heritage,” said mayor Mathias De Clercq of Open VLD. “But the alternative is years of vacancy, which benefits no one.” Flanders’ Heritage minister, Ben Weyts of N-VA, also defended the conversion.
There will be a restaurant and a wine bar inside the church, with a small park in front. “It has everything it needs to become a vibrant place for the neighbourhood,” said De Clercq.
Flanders is contributing 3 million euros to the cost of the renovation, with the rest paid by Delhaize, but the total budget has not been made public.
#FlandersNewsService | An artist's impression of the renovated Sint-Anna church, due to be completed in autumn 2027 © PHOTO DELHAIZE
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