Overcast, frequent showers and dropping temperatures. But there is no question of discouraging Moira and Magali. This Friday noon, these two Parisians decided to brave the bad weather to treat themselves to their very first lunch on the terrace since confinement. To taste their burger and their steak, they chose a brasserie in their neighborhood, a few steps from the Dugommier metro, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
"It doesn't matter if it's raining heavily, for me, it's a militant gesture," says Moira, installed under one of the outdoor heaters. I have made it my mission to have coffee or eat out as soon as possible to support the merchants. This support will not be too much for Ile-de-France restaurateurs, particularly affected by the health crisis.
As of Tuesday, only those with an outdoor terrace can once again welcome guests there, respecting strict rules.
"A discriminatory measure"
In the region classified in orange, a third of restaurateurs have one. However, not everyone has chosen to reopen. "I think less than half have done it," said Jean Terlon, vice-president of the catering branch of the Union of Hotel Trades and Industries (Umih). For him, this “half-reopening” is problematic for more than one reason. "It is a discriminatory measure, because those who do not have terraces cannot reopen at all, analyzes the one who is also the head of a restaurant in Longjumeau, in Essonne. But it is also a complicated measure to implement. "
READ ALSO> In Paris, barely reopened, terraces close "because of rain and absurd policies"
"Everything is kept by the weather," says Stéphane Peloin. It is not viable. In the vast garden of his restaurant located in Itteville in Essonne, the owner of the Auberge de l'Épine can usually accommodate up to 80 people. However, he decided not to resume service. "We work with fresh products," he argues. In case of rain, we would have to throw everything away. "
Difficult also to manage reservations and customer service. "If the weather changes during a meal, knowing that we don't have the right to put people inside, what do we do," he questions. And how do we do with our staff? We bring them in and then tell them that they might go home if the weather changes? "
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This professional is now on the lookout for the likely greening of the region from June 22 to be able to return to the kitchen.
"Tuesday, all the regulars came back"
In the meantime, this half-opening has given a breath of fresh air to some, especially in the capital. "The terrace effect is very Parisian, analyzes Jean Terlon. Parisians love it and they need to get out. "
In Paris, the happiness found of cafes on the terrace
Manager of the Le Sancerre brewery (III), Ahcene Sellam is delighted to have been able to find his customers. In particular, he was able to benefit from a terrace extension that the Paris city hall granted him until September 30, as well as to 3,414 other bistro operators. "It's a good thing," he observes. Tuesday, reopening day, there was an extraordinary atmosphere. All the regulars returned. Some for a coffee, even left us a ten-euro note! "
Soon pedestrianized streets in Paris to leave more space on the terraces
The City of Paris also proposes to temporarily close the streets to traffic to give more space to the terraces. Those who wish are invited to send a request to the Town Hall. Eighty-six files are currently under investigation. Whether on weekends or certain evenings, the first pedestrianized street experiences in this context should start at the end of June. But beware, to exploit these temporary terraces, the owners of the establishment will have to undertake in particular to close them at 10 p.m.
READ ALSO> Extension of terraces in Paris: worried residents regret not having been consulted
Where the rub is that the installation of a dozen additional tables "does not compensate for the loss of turnover due to the closure of the room and the counter, a real people's parliament where the people of the district ", notes the boss of Sancerre whose 14 employees have taken over the service, even if it is reduced.
"We must lighten the protocol," insists Marcel Benezet, president of the branch of café bars and breweries of the National Group of Self-Employed Hotels and Restaurants (GNI HCR). Opening only the terraces is not an economic model that holds. An observation that leaves him with a bitter taste on this Mother's Day weekend. "Given the weather, there is a good chance that it will still happen confined to the house. "
"A total injustice": without a terrace, this restaurant owner in Evry-Courcouronnes could not reopen
"It is a total injustice!" Prasanta Uprety does not take offense. Since Tuesday, the owner of Annapurna, a restaurant specializing in Nepalese and Indian cuisine, based in Evry-Courcouronnes in Essonne, has been helplessly witnessing the reopening of terraces in Ile-de-France. In the region classified in orange, only establishments that have one are again authorized to welcome customers.
READ ALSO > Deconfinement, phase 2: the anger of restaurateurs without a terrace in Paris
Prasanta Uprety is one of two-thirds of Ile-de-France restaurateurs who have no outdoor spaces, according to figures from the Union of Hotel Trades and Industries (Umih). “When you open a restaurant, however, you all get the same license, annoys this thirty-something, who can usually accommodate up to 80 customers in his establishment. There, they play on a somewhat stupid clause. And we, we find ourselves condemned, we still cannot use our work tool. "
"We need to see our customers again"
This professional has thought about setting up a few tables in front of his restaurant, located just across from the Evry 2 shopping center. -he. And it would cost me at least 10,000 euros, if I want to meet the standards. "
However, the town hall claims to have simplified the requests for temporary installation of terraces as much as possible, as is also the case in Paris. Thirty, ephemeral or already existing, have been open in the city since Tuesday. "Depending on the location of the place, they are offered to put a few tables along the sidewalk or to condemn a few parking spaces," says Pascal Cauchebrais, new elected to the trade. And we decided not to charge them for the terrace fee. It remains to be seen if the weather will also play the game in the coming days.
Terraces in Paris: this object transforms the posts into a bistro table