The Brewers Market Reopens

Is there a worse time to open a new entertainment venue than during a pandemic?Che Rousseau, the ardent owner of The Brewers Market, doesn’t need to state the obvious.No.

Having started the year on the high of effectually saving the much-mourned Warehouse Theatre under the umbrella of the multipurpose The Brewers Market, Rousseau had barely opened the venue’s doors when Covid-19 and all its horrors shut everything down.

“We had been open for one month and had just found our feet. We had gained customer loyalty, and then it felt like the carpet was ripped out from underneath us,” says Rousseau, who was so passionate about the beloved arts space that he convinced the landlords to let him reopen in a similar vein before paying a year’s rent upfront.

Unfortunately, for much of this year, The Brewers Market has been closed.

Shuttered due to Covid-19, the space, which had just begun to buzz with an eclectic Saturday market, art gallery, live music stage, food market and more, has been closed since March and reopened last week.

“During lockdown a lot of the young entrepreneurs’ dreams have collapsed or have been put on hold, and they can no longer be a part of The Brewers Market – even after offering them the space for free,” says Rousseau, whose goal has been to provide a fresh, vibrant and hopefully profitable space for musicians, painters, comedians, dancers, designers and culinary artists to call home.

Despite major setbacks and a massive loss of income, the enthusiasm Rousseau has for the venue and the people who make The Brewers Market the diverse and innovative establishment it is lives on.

“Our dream continues and will go on. Like every other Namibian, we will have to tighten our belts, change our strategies and throw 200% into it.”

The Brewers Market’s new normal involves continuing their food market as a sit-down venue for a maximum of 50 people and offering the same great entertainment on a smaller scale. Food stalls such as Yetti and The Fox, The Braaibak, Chakula African Cuisine, The Batter Bar, Daisho (returning in July) and El Tigre, which specialises in tacos, will be cooking up a storm while The D.E.N, The Brew Room, The Deck, The Brewers Gallery and a series of jewellery and accessory exhibitors are open too.

“With the help of our page fans, we will also do ad hoc pop-up food stalls that cater for sit-down bookings, special seating and perhaps live music,” says Rousseau.

“Our strategy for supporting performance artists involves requesting a small gratuity from our 50 guests, which will go straight to the artist,” says Rousseau.

“We have all Covid-19 precautions in place, starting with a register at the entrance and bookings for seated lunch and dinner guests. Hand sanitiser is available upon entry. We adhere to a 50-person capacity limit and social distancing measures. We disinfect tables, glasses and other surfaces. We have also put signs up everywhere to remind customers and to allow peace of mind.”

Ready to tackle Covid-19 as the new and inescapable reality, Rousseau is eager to get back on track with caution.

“It is up to each individual to practise the necessary precautions and to adhere to the rules on a constant basis, which will eventually bring life to some sort of normality.”

Hard hit by the shutdowns and with silver linings admittedly thin to the point of invisibility, Rousseau has been heartened by the camaraderie he has found between friends, staff and artists, and encourages everyone to join.

“Namibia, please support us during these difficult times,” he says.

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