A gray door closes.
The “ghost” store on rue Emille Allez is hidden away and out of sight.
The storefront announces, however, “Tomorrow's races, today”.
But this store is a "darkstore", a place that is only used to store consumer products that will be delivered to customers through online applications.
The “Cajoo” brand displayed in front of the store is a relic.
It disappeared after being acquired by Flink, one of the behemoths in the sector.
“They don't seem to like the publicity that can be given to them by highlighting what they really do in the streets.
They are happy to sell but they are not very happy to assume what is the reality of their business.
These are nuisances and they know it”, slips Charles-Erwin,
For the past few days, a draft ministerial decree has been of particular concern to residents and the Parisian municipality.
Relayed on August 13 by Emmanuel Grégoire, the first deputy mayor of Paris, this draft text could legalize these ghost supermarkets.
The elected official denounces a “very shocking” method.
"In a certain way, the one who made a mistake is excused or forgiven by a text which adapts to his activity more than it takes into account the interest of the inhabitants and traders".
Anne Hidalgo's right-hand man is however optimistic about the possibility of changing this draft ministerial decree.
Questioned on August 18 on RTL, Olivier Klein, the Minister in charge of Housing and the City wanted to reassure the municipalities, which should be able to choose whether or not to ban these ghost stores.
Read alsoThe “darkstores” soon to be legalized?
The project that worries the town hall of Paris
Flink, for his part, is delighted “that the public authorities are thinking about the supervision of our activity.
We hope for a constructive and peaceful dialogue, which will make it possible to build a legal framework that is both ambitious and conducive to the balanced development of quick commerce in France”.
Exasperated residents
In the meantime, the residents of the rue Allez are fuming.
“I find it completely insane to make decisions when you don't know what you're talking about.
I invite all deputies to come and visit my street and see the nuisance we are experiencing, ”says Samira, who lives just opposite the “darkstore”.
With its neighbors, the Ile-de-France has created an association to put an end to this storage room installed there for more than a year and a half.
“There were carts echoing throughout the building,” laments his neighbor Charles-Erwin.
He also denounces "the supplies with the 19-tonne trucks" which prevented him from circulating and leaving his parking lot.
Or the air-conditioning blocks that echoed all the way to his old second-floor apartment.
The ex-resident says he moved because of these inconveniences and is worried about not finding a tenant.
Her neighbor Samira also highlights daily incivilities from 7 a.m. to midnight.
“There are also crowds, people who will meet downstairs”.
Brands that claim to be vigilant against nuisances
When questioned, Gorillas and Flink, two major brands in the sector, did not wish to open their doors to us.
These brands, established in France in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, would like to highlight the efforts undertaken to minimize nuisance, by maintaining, for example, activities inside the premises as much as possible.
Gorillas explains that it has adopted "a neighborhood charter to ensure that it maintains a good relationship with the neighborhood" and has appointed a dedicated team.
Flink puts forward "very strict instructions in this regard, so that our deliverers respect the tranquility of the neighborhood" and says "pronounce sanctions in the event of non-compliance with these instructions", while being "sensitive to feedback from local residents" .
