Carmen: “We fell in love immediately. We were struck by the friendly atmosphere. And everyone just did their thing, it was so friendly. We immediately said, we are going to do this too.” The two brought the concept to Emmen and celebrated their tenth anniversary in July. They started with nine boys and girls, or champs, as Nick and Carmen describe them. There are now 17, of which seven have been working at the Emmer business since the beginning.
And now in the year of the tenth anniversary, this new home is of course the icing on the cake. It is also a solution in other ways. Because the jacket at the old location started to pinch a bit at peak times, according to Nick.
The move to Villa De Lindenhof therefore represents a big step forward. While the current business has 65 seats, there will soon be around 100 places, spread over various rooms, the conservatory and terraces around the building. “It will be much less of a chore,” says Nick. “More spacious, more pleasant to sit in and also better suited for groups.”
Two rooms upstairs will also be available for meetings of 10 to 25 people. Not a party room, Carmen emphasizes, but suitable for meetings or small events. The kitchen is becoming larger, giving the greats more space to work around, even during busy times.
Before the first guests can be received, a lot still needs to be done. The 1930s villa is monumental, but also outdated. Insulation, ceilings, installations: everything needs to be addressed. The municipality is responsible for the construction-related matters; the design will be the responsibility of the entrepreneurs.
If all goes well, Brownies&Downies will open the doors of the new location in the second half of 2027. As said, entrepreneurs can already see the picture in their heads. Just be patient and the rest of Emmen will soon see it too.