The bad weather of the past few days has somewhat dampened their enthusiasm. Last Sunday, the traders established around Notre-Dame (IVe) were happy to reopen the square of the cathedral, still closed and under construction after the fire which ravaged it on April 15, 2019.
“This represents a real restart for us. Pedestrian traffic will be much more fluid, and we hope that it will make passers-by come back, ”confided Mickaël Agay, vice-president of the Association of merchants of Notre-Dame.
A short-term improvement
The latter were betting on opening up the intersection of the streets of Arcole and the Cloister Notre-Dame. The upturn in the Pentecost sunny weekend was short lived. This Friday noon, these arteries were deserted and the souvenir shops or food shops almost all closed.
"Sunday and Monday, we had a little more people, but it was very quiet all week," confirms Raquel, from the Amorino ice cream parlor, a rare sign in the rue d'Arcole open with the exchange office and the stand takeaway from the Sur le Pouce bistro.
“Monday, with the walkers, we found an animation that we had not known for a year. There is a little more passage, but it remains limited, apart from our few regulars, says the boss Eric. We are waiting for telework to stop before people come back. But as long as there are no tourists, all the souvenir shops will not reopen. "
"Before, you almost had to fight to eat on the terrace"
The deconfinement and the reopening of the terraces have not changed the situation either. All continue to suffer from the closure of the cathedral and the prolonged absence of foreigners due to closed borders.
Summer is not going to be more perky. "We must hope at least for a return of European tourists, but those who have rents of 6,000 or 7,000 € may not be able to reopen before September, if at all. I had to lay off my staff, I made a credit for that. I still have a 62-year-old employee, ”explains Jérôme, owner of the Crêperie du Cloître in the street of the same name, where the family has three businesses.
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In front of his take-away sales stand along the cathedral, he feels very lonely. "With the reopening of the Parvis, it's more fun, there is more space, but no recovery," he laments.
Same observation at the end of the street, before the bridge leading to Île Saint-Louis. At 1 p.m., the terrace of the Esmeralda brewery welcomes seven customers. “We make 15 covers a day. Before, you almost had to fight to eat on the terrace, ”says skipper Roger-Frédéric, who feels“ no effect at the reopening of the forecourt ”.
The law of series
"There is no one anywhere, no tourists, no Parisians," he regrets. My only clientele are the site workers. Tourists are not going to come back overnight, especially if we impose a fortnight on their arrival. I don't know how we're going to get out of it. Reopening costs me more than closing because I still need people and goods that I have to throw away. I will close again, without knowing when I will reopen. "
And the coffee maker to hope that the law of the series finally stops: "We had the attacks then when it started again, the yellow vests, the fire, the strikes and now the Covid. "