Marlous Mutsaers: “Tilburg now truly belongs to the big cities"

Marlous Mutsaers replaced her studies in dietetics with a job that she has not regretted for one minute. "When I was looking for a suitable job years ago, Gianotten's advertisement instantly caught my eye. Once I applied, I was immediately hired and I never left after that." After years of working as a store manager, Marlous has been the proud owner of Gianotten Mutsaers for 7 years, together with her son Ruud. "We bought the company when it went bankrupt for the second time in 2 years, because we knew it would work well here in Tilburg. We thought we knew exactly what to do and what not to do, and that turned out to be true. We do what the client wants, because every city has its own profile. They are all small touches, but it is those touches that are important."

Together we make the city even more beautiful

In addition to being the owner of Gianotten Mutsaers, Marlous is also the chairman of the Retailers Association Emmapassage, chairman of the Retailers Association Tilburg City Centre, board member of City Centre Management Tilburg, board member of the Entrepreneurs Fund, member of the Supervisory Board of De Nieuwe Vorst and member of the Women's Network Hera. "Why am I so involved in the city? I really like Tilburg. It appeals to me how we work together here and I like to contribute to that. I believe in the collective, so the better the city is doing, the better our store is doing."

Downtown transformation

We cannot ignore it: the center of Tilburg is, as Marcel Kattenstaart said, one big construction site. Gianotten Mutsaers, as a bookstore, is right in the middle of it. "A few years ago they started the transformation of the city center. Think of the renovation of the Emmapassage, Frederikstraat, City Hall and the greening of the city center. The Emmapassage will be completed in two parts, the last part will be finished early 2022. Because we were the first store to open in the renewed Emmapassage, we hoped to get new neighbors, but the Emmapassage is quite empty. You can't blame anyone for that, but it is a pity! Good news is that we will expand a part of the store! Or rather, the restaurant area will be expanded to include a space where you can have lunch. Of course you can already join us for a good cup of coffee or tea with pastry, but soon it will be even more attractive and especially larger. The new section will be built on the spot where the word 'hallo' is now on the wall (see cover photo) and will open onto the yet-to-be-developed square between Frederikstraat and Emmapassage."

Tilburg now belongs to the big cities

"I think Tilburg has made great progress and has become really nice for both the residents, and beyond. Developments like the Spoorpark, the Spoorzone and the Piushaven make the city dynamic and accessible to many target groups." One plan that is still in the development phase is the Stadsforum. According to Marlous, this is a huge opportunity for the inner city, but not without consequences.