Marcel riga and his suitcase store…

Everything for your journey - Suitcases for Africa Alles voor de reis - Koffers voor Afrika

Hotel Riga was named after the previous owner of the building. Riga Leathergoods started out in 1898, but it was Marcel Riga who gave us the inspiration for our name. In 1938 he opened a suitcase store named ‘M. Riga, Everyting for your journey - suitcases for Africa’ at our current location and it has been an icon ever since. The store was known for its big and strong suitcases. Suitcases made to endure a long and difficult boat trip to Africa, hence the slogan on the front of the building.

Throughout the hotel we’ve kept some of the old details or tried to bring back the history of the building. Behind the reception desk you will find the old shutters with the slogan ‘travel necessities’. Walking through our hallways will give you true ‘travel-feeling’ since we’ve printed X-rays of suitcases on our carpet. Even now, people still recognise these iconic details and come in to talk about their memories of the previous store.

Whilst restoring the old slogan on our facade we also found even older engravings. They were made by the jeweller Ramboux et Fils, who had a jewellery store from 1862 - 1924.