Does mosque location matter? Mosque and Islamic shops in the European context

Abstract

Purpose Mosques influence the surrounding neighborhoods’ demographic patterns and motivate investors to establish new businesses and commercial activities. This study aims to explore the impact of the mosque on the emergence of new businesses. Furthermore, this study examines the demography of neighborhoods in which mosques are located. Design/methodology/approach This study opts for an exploratory study using a retrospective analysis approach to explore the mosque’s impact on the social and functional aspects of neighborhoods. The emerging shops around mosques in the city of Liège (Belgium) are analyzed using a logistic regression model. The criterion for the location of Islamic shops was cross-referenced with other variables, such as distance from the center, proximity to supermarkets and shopping malls, distance from the mosque, socio-economic variables (immigration, income nationalities, etc.) and bus accessibility data. Several zones around mosques, ranging from 100 to 1000 m, are established to examine the correlation between types of businesses and distance to the mosque. Five types of businesses are identified: regular trade, light semi-regular trade, heavy semi-regular trade, Horeca and services. Islamic shops are identified based on on-site observations and interviews and classified by type. Findings The results show that mosques significantly impact the establishment of new businesses in the surrounding urban space (especially Islamic shops). In terms of the types of Islamic shops surrounding the mosques, this study found a strong presence of “Horeca” (cafes, restaurants and snack bars), and “light semi-regular trade” (mainly personal care). Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few studies that fulfill the need to understand the role of the mosque location in European cities, focusing on its impact on Islamic shops.