In the Guillotière district of Lyon, Casino supermarket customers can no longer do their evening shopping.
The store now lowers its iron curtain at 5 p.m., two hours earlier than its usual hours.
Management says it is taking this initiative out of
"security",
in a context of increasing verbal or physical altercations involving its guards, especially at the end of the day.
“In the evening, it can quickly overflow,”
admits an employee of the Casino de la Guillotière.
To read also "It becomes too dangerous": in the heart of the Guillotière, district of Lyon plagued by delinquency
The Casino's difficulties in ensuring security even on its shelves reflect the general situation of traders in this central district of Lyon, located a ten-minute walk from Place Bellecour.
“We are witnessing an escalation of all types of insecurity: incivility, aggression and even settling of scores with firearms.
It is beyond comprehension ”
, indignant the president of the association of traders of the Gambetta course, Julien Deschamps.
This artery crosses the Place Gabriel Péri, where illegals, street vendors and petty traffickers regularly gather.
Denounced by local residents' associations and traders, this
“wild market”
littered with rubbish is the scene of multiple fights, pick-pocketing and assaults.
In the forefront of these overflows, the McDonald's which borders the square has also decided to close its doors earlier.
After fifteen hours, its customers can no longer consume on the spot and must be satisfied with take-out sales.
Between Covid and insecurity, -60% of revenue
Traders are watching with concern the consequences of this situation on their businesses.
"We have regular customers who are assaulted and who move,"
regrets optician Julien Deschamps who has not yet noted a loss in turnover. Conversely, the Best Bagels restaurant, located higher on the Cours Gambetta, has observed a 60% drop in its activity compared to the pre-Covid period. The brand has only two employees against seven in 2019.
“The pandemic has affected our revenues but we have lost at least 30% due to insecurity,
estimates its owner Frédéric Lopez.
In September, a man was shot and wounded in front of the restaurant.
It is very clear that customers are afraid to come to La Guillotière.
Even I am afraid for my employees.
I don't know how long I will last ”.
On October 21, Best Bagels closed shop, like 150 other businesses, to draw the attention of the town hall to the deterioration of the neighborhood.
Their main requirement: a permanent police presence around Place Gabriel Péri.
Read alsoLyon: the district of Guillotière, "an area of all rights" undermined by insecurity and trafficking
A delegation of traders was received by the security assistant at the town hall the following week.
The elected representative asked for time to restore order on the spot without making more commitments.
Since this interview, Julien Deschamps has observed police operations
"a little more frequent and muscular"
in his neighborhood, still
"insufficient"
according to him.
His collective of businesses is in contact with a lawyer and is considering legal proceedings against the town hall, which they accuse of not ensuring its security missions.
