Closing of bars and strengthening of the health protocol in restaurants: on paper, the new health measures that came into force in Paris this Tuesday, October 6 in the morning to try to slow the progression of the coronavirus epidemic, appear clear.
But what about the brasseries, these typically Parisian establishments, open as usual to serve coffee in the morning, lemonade in the afternoon and meals for lunch and dinner?
“We are in the most complete vagueness.
The only certainty is that you are no longer allowed to serve at the counter.
Result: we lost all the workers in the morning, ”notes Marie-Pierre Bouyssou, manager of the Le Progrès brewery, rue de Bretagne (3rd arrondissement), who has stacked stools in front of the zinc to deter any offender.
Closing of bars: "It's a hassle ... we don't know what will become of us"
"The police, who came this morning, told us that we could only serve coffee in the dining room or on the terrace with a croissant, a pastry… something to eat", specifies Ahcene Sellam, owner of Sancerre, also rue from Brittany.
While declaring himself "happy to stay open", Ahcene admits "not understanding why the government is closing bars while Starbucks, some bakeries and some mini markets continue to sell cafes".
A coffee with necessarily a croissant?
Did the police officers who did pedagogy this Tuesday morning in the Marais be overzealous?
President of the cafes and brasseries activity in Paris of the professional union GNI (National Group of Independents, ex Synhorcat), Marcel Bénézet - who estimates the number of bars at 2,500 and that of brasseries and restaurants in the capital at 11,500 - is categorical: “the breweries remain open in accordance with the health protocol of course.
No bar service, although customers sit on high stools.
And coffee makers are allowed to serve coffee on their own.
Bakers do it well.
Otherwise, we will still have our job stolen ”.
And to conclude with a clear formula: "in the police stations, the officials who call me on the phone are as lost as our restaurateurs in the face of the new rules".
Audrey at the terrace of Progrès (3rd) / Philippe Baverel
Seated in front of an espresso on the terrace of Le Progrès, Audrey, an optician, declares "that she does not agree at all" with the new turn of the screw imposed on bistro owners.
“When I see people lining up for Nuit blanche or crowded on the metro platforms, I tell myself that there are too many contradictions and that it doesn't make sense.
Under these conditions, I will not give up my morning coffee ritual ”, says this mother of three children who lives in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine).
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A teacher in a vocational high school, Laure, who opts for take-out coffee before joining her class, shares the same misunderstanding: "It's a shame not being able to have a hot drink at the counter anymore."
And prefers to be ironic in front of the reminder book on which the waiter invites him to leave his name, first name and telephone number: "And the pencil, do you disinfect it each time?"
"
Revenue in free fall
On the turnover side (60% of which is generally made in the catering industry, the rest thanks to the bar activity), "we are at -50% compared to the same time of last year", estimate the unison Jean-Philippe Nikoghossian, manager of La Perle and Café Foufou, Franck Rolland, owner of Café du Marché and Ahcen Sellam - who have just created a collective bringing together around ten bars and brasseries on rue de Bretagne.
Their ambition?
"Knowing where you are going and forwarding the information", replies Ahcen Sellam.
