1898

Guillaume and Louise Dekock opened their first shop in Place de la Chapelle. It was called "Au Grand Mouton Blanc". A reference to the wool that would soon be on display and used for carding* mattresses.

1919

Guillaume set up his two sons, Gabriel and François, in two separate businesses. The Au Bon Repos name was introduced at No. 12 rue Blaes, which he had bought a few years earlier.

1928

The same year their son Roger was born, Gabriel and Léontine bought the building next to theirs, 10, rue Blaes. The stalls display more and more mattresses, bedsprings, wool, kapok and ... eelgrass.

1933 

Gabriel acquired the building located at 17 rue Blaes for the sum of F350,000 and installed Clément Vanderhoeven, his wife's brother, there. He was to trade under the Bon Repos name but not offer any goods sold by the parent company.

1940

Europe is once again at war. On 1 September 1940, Gabriel learned that his wonderful Chevrolet truck had been requisitioned. In 1944, the truck requisitioned in 1940 had still not been returned, so Gabriel had a "priority order" to acquire a means of transport.

1944

The new truck

1948

When François Dekock died, Gabriel acquired his brother's buildings. Gabriel wanted to keep both names. "Le Grand Mouton Blanc" and "Au Bon Repos" went on to coexist peacefully under the same management.

1957

The range of products was extended … Roger and Christiane began to make

wall hangings and, shortly afterwards, furniture.

1957

On 20 September, Lucien Cooremans, Mayor of Brussels, officially opened the first extensions.

1958

World Fair: A record: in one day, the Fair attracted 700,000 visitors. The success of 1958 was mainly due to the presentation of folding beds and sofas that could accommodate an occasional guest. Foldaway beds and sofa beds sold like hotcakes.

1963

Unite the two stores

1964

Opening of our new facilities. The carpet department, gifts, wallpaper, household appliances, and a great new feature, the furniture department! "Le Bon Repos" now rivalled the famous Maison Vanderborght, Marked a real revolution in the field of bedroom furniture. This is the beginning of the commercialization of the famous Lattofl ex bed base. Until then, people had slept on a sprung base. Now people were sleeping on slats.

1967

The logo, a new image! The logo appeared for the first time in 1967. It is a compact block, illustrating in a very imaginative way what good rest would look like in a few years.

1971

While many competitors left the city and moved to the suburbs, along the main roads, Roger continued to believe that leaving the Place de la Chapelle would be a  mistake. He therefore launched the last expansion project for the shop to arrive at the result we know today.

1973

1973, Roger passed away. The clan pulled together: Christiane, accompanied by her sons Robert (administration and communication) and Bernard (purchasing and sales).

1898 - 1998

AU BON REPOS celebrates its 100th anniversary.
 

2019

After 47 years of loyal service, the two Dekock brothers handed the reins over to their sons and nephew. Gregory, Steve and Bertrand are renovating the shop. Inside and out.