Walk with me -
Richard Lopes Mendes
Walk with me -
Richard Lopes Mendes
The Route
Richard's route begins on the street where he was born: Finnish Street.
The route ends where the Banlieu once began: the Saw Mill Drive
The length of the route is 7.97 kilometers, part of which you do by subway.
The start is on Finsestraat where Richard was born. Walk down Finsestraat towards Schiedamseweg Beneden.
- Walk all the way down the street until you reach Marconiplein subway station.
- Take the subway to Coolhaven subway station.
- Cross the Rochussenstraat.
- Walk along the Heemraadssingel to the Nieuwe Binnenweg.
- Turn right onto the Nieuwe Binnenweg.
- At number 211 is the Surinamese Chinese eatery Sranang.
- Richard would have a chicken curry sandwich here.
- Walk on until you reach the water: the Westersingel.
- Turn left, the water flowing on your right.
- At number 5 is the Chinese QQ Bakery, you really should go there for a colorful sweet cake.
- Turn right here and walk between Pathé and De Doelen towards Korte Lijnbaan.
- At number 7 is Banlieu's store.
- Turn left at the Spelende Beertje onto Lijnbaan
- And take the first right: the Kruiskade (not to be confused with the West Kruiskade)
- You come out on the Coolsingel.
- There, turn left toward Hofplein.
- At Garam Masala, turn right onto Pompenburg.
- You cross the Goudsesingel.
- And you start walking on the left side of the street.
- You can cross the water with the Friends Bridge, so that's left.
- After the bridge, immediately turn right and walk along the water - the Rotte River,
- You walk along the Rechter Rottekade
- You will pass North Square,
- You keep walking along the water; the street is now called Saw Mill Quay.
- You continue walking until you reach Saw Mill Drive.
- Turn left there.
- At No. 4, the Banlieu opened its first store in 2017; the living room had become too small.
- Exactly one year later, the first flagship store opened at number 53.
When the Richard and his colleagues were hungry they went to number 49, which is where Tai Tung is located and it has the most delicious shrimp sandwich.
Tips from Richard
For even more delicious sandwiches go to Alberts Corner, Slaak 72
Go to the World Museum, Willemskade 25, in the Rotterdam Heritage collection is a garment from Banlieu, number WM77481 (he knows by heart), that piece will be kept for 100 years, and that is a beginning of immortality
Take streetcar 125 and you will see all the people of Rotterdam, streetcar 125 runs from Schiebroek to Stadion Feyenoord
This is where you see Rotterdam at its best: look from the Willemsbrug to the Erasmus Bridge
The Kuip must be seen - it is untouchable
For a hair salon, Richard goes to Jaffa, Witte de Withstraat 25
For anyone with a heart for street soccer: Lloyd Multiplein, Schiehaven 13, if you have been practicing you can show off your skills here step in the footsteps of Memphis de Paay and Robin van Persie
What's really fun: a boat ride with great food while trash hunting to tackle the plastic soup.
Richard enjoys going to the Wednesday market in Grand Fishing Square
And combine a visit to the market with a visit to the Bouwkeet, Schiedamseweg 240, Bospolder-Tussendijken's social makerspace.
Richard Mendes Lopes
You may know him from the Banlieu
Banlieue is a lifestyle brand founded in 2014; quality clothing that is true to the entrepreneurs' roots, to the neighborhoods they call home, and to the essence that the banlieues represent. The style is raw and authentic, they stand with and for the community to create memories that last a lifetime.
Richard: "My rule of life I was given by my mother: always pray - always talk to God."
But he has more wise words:
- Don't feel sorry for yourself, feel sorry for another person
- What is there, that is there
Richards motive in life: becoming immortal
Richard thinks Rotterdam is a mini version of New York
Richard is more Rotterdammer than Cape Verdean, but he doesn't tell anyone that
He was born an entrepreneur, went to Lentiz | LIFE College in Schiedam and remained an entrepreneur
