Mayfair X Filigranes

World Book Day marks the warm welcome of a team of around thirty booksellers and advisors from Filigranes—one of the largest French-speaking bookstores—to the heart of Mayfair, located on Avenue de la Toison d’Or in Brussels.

In November 2024, Mehmet Sandurac, the owner of Mayfair, acquired the Filigranes bookstore. On April 23, after months of renovation and expansion, the renowned bookstore reopens with renewed energy within the 3,500 m² Mayfair department store at 25 Avenue de la Toison d’Or. The teams at Filigranes and Mayfair have worked closely together to bring lifestyle and culture together under one roof.

A symbolic day

The chosen date is the perfect occasion to introduce the new Filigranes to the public. Visitors are welcomed into a warm, inviting and light-filled space, easily accessible by public transport, bicycle or car. Spread across four floors, the store invites people to wander and explore at their own pace. As before, expert booksellers, each specialized in their field, will guide customers under the leadership of Grégory Hankar through the various sections: Literature, Humanities, Leisure and Wellbeing, Fine Arts, Comics, Manga and New Romance, Children’s, Games and Toys, Dutch and International. The offering includes around 150,000 books. One of Filigranes’ great strengths has always been its personal advice, and that remains unchanged within Mayfair.

Joévin Ortjens, COO of Mayfair, explains: “Filigranes is not just a bookstore, it is an accessible institution that belongs to the people of Brussels, and to Belgians in general. Our ambition is to preserve this heritage by building on what made it successful and giving it a sustainable future.”

A place for everyone

Mayfair is a unique destination where different audiences come together. It combines the diversity and scale of a department store with the curated experience of a concept store. It is a place where culture, design and fashion come together to spark curiosity and discovery — a lively space designed to surprise, inspire and connect people, both locals and international visitors. Filigranes is a natural fit within this concept.

“Our goal is to offer a Bookstore 2.0 experience—a renewed version that invites people to step inside and enjoy a unique moment. Everyone is free to explore the entire department store or focus on the area that interests them. It’s a personalized journey for every visitor, open seven days a week. We also aim to restore Mayfair as a popular Sunday destination—just as Filigranes once was,”
says Joévin Ortjens.

A Meeting Point

Filigranes has always been a vital meeting place where readers and authors connect. Mayfair will carry on this tradition with six to eight author events per month, including signings, debates and literary discoveries. In April and May, several author moments are already scheduled, including François Bégaudeau, Fabrice Arfi, Léon Salin, Swann Périssé, Michel Barnier, and more surprises to come. A new dining area completes the transformation of Mayfair, offering a seasonal, homemade menu — ideal for a pleasant break. As for online sales, the current Filigranes website (Filigranes.be) will remain available for the time being. It will soon be integrated into Mayfair’s new e-commerce platform.

Upcoming Author Events

7 May – 18:00: Guiseppe Santo Liquido
8 May – 16:30: Camille Kouchner
10 May – 17:30: Léon Salin
13 May – 17:00: Caroline Allan
17 May – 16:00: Virginie Delache
22 May – 17:30: Alexander Deprez
1 June – 16:00: Swann Périssé
10 June – 16:30: Michel Barnier
16 June – 17:00: Delphine Horvilleur