Thibaud Elzière unveils Kafet, "one of the largest restaurants in Brussels"

The entrepreneur behind the crazy project of the Brussels incubator WAT is looking for the right person to build with him a huge "50s diner reimagined for today" in the heart of the Ixelles Cemetery.

Thibaud Elzière has been an entrepreneur in the tech industry for over twenty years. His first creation, the stock photo agency Fotolia, was acquired by Adobe for around 800 million euros. But he didn't stop there and wanted to industrialize the launch of successful companies. His startup studio, Hexa, contributed to the emergence of unicorns (companies valued at over one billion euros) and solidified the ambitions behind his audacious project in development: WAT, a mega-incubator housed in the former power station on Rue Volta in Ixelles.

Meanwhile, diversifying his business, Thilaud Elzière launched Iconic House, which develops "exceptional" hotels centered around experiences and powerful emotions, like "a dinner that stretches on"... It is clearly in line with this notion of hospitality that he is now seeking new talent to take over the general management of a large restaurant. "More than 300 seats, a terrace with around 150 seats, a real capacity for events, and a prepared and takeaway menu designed as a business in its own right," he reveals .

The team already has the catering permit, the planning permission, and the renovation project for the Imprimerie, a seventy-year-old building located directly opposite the future incubator and currently housing its beta version with around one hundred entrepreneurs. "In September 2027, WAT will move into its permanent building, and the Imprimerie will become Kafet," predicts Thibaud Elzière.

“One of the greatest restaurants in Brussels,” enthuses the project leader. “A 1950s American diner reimagined for today: healthier, more contemporary, but still generous, simple, and accessible. A place open to everyone, from breakfast to dinner, where you can come for a coffee, lunch, dinner with family, or to meet up with friends.”

The entrepreneur makes no secret of his desire to transform this 800m² space between the ULB and VUB universities, in the heart of the Ixelles Cemetery, into a true "Brussels institution." In "a neighborhood currently dominated by student bars and local shops, Kafet aims for a calmer, more upscale positioning in a segment that is still untapped locally," the job posting describes .

Attention all enthusiasts: the creator of WAT is looking for the right person, "an entrepreneur at heart, with solid experience in catering / hospitality, comfortable with the field" and who will be able to design and build the Kafet concept "from A to Z, right up to the opening".

Before taking the lead on Food & Beverage operations, including the recruitment of the chef and all teams. While ensuring the day-to-day management of the restaurant, the daily running of the venue as well as the development of the events/private booking side (100 to 300+ guests).