Final adjustments before the opening of the house of second-hand dealers in Châteaudun (Eure-et-Loir). Julien Cohen, conductor, leads the dance shirtless for the installation of hundreds of objects that will bring this former hospice to life on Saturday, June 3. Looking out the window, a few olive trees and a replica of a Delage car, the work of the visual artist Raoul W, dress a gravelled courtyard. "It's still prettier than the palm trees that were on display during my first visit," says Julien Cohen. It was January 6, 2022. The former host of "Affaire conclue" discovered the Hôtel-Dieu for the first time. Less than two years later, he opened his fourth second-hand shop in France.
At the end of the courtyard, the Madeleine church dominates the future second-hand dealers' house. It was first of all this building that had caught the attention of the media second-hand dealer. An outcry from part of the population quickly pulled the rug out from under his feet. In a few weeks, the project had mobilized the inhabitants who wished to preserve this abbey church in the communal heritage. A petition had collected 2,800 signatures in a few weeks. "It's a little pinch, but I'm very good here," says the entrepreneur under the whitewashed warheads, magnified by thirteen opaline ball chandeliers.
The U-shaped building, built in 1762, is distinguished first of all by its number of openings in its façade: one hundred and fifty-five in total, "we have changed fifty-seven" says the fifty-year-old who spent more than he imagined to rehabilitate the 5000m² building. "I invested two million euros just for the ground floor, but when you see the result," he says.
19 hotel rooms created
The result: It is the rebirth of a building a little forgotten by the Dunois. Until 1976, the Hôtel-Dieu housed the Châteaudun hospital before being bought by the city. Before the house of second-hand dealers wanted by Julien Cohen, it housed the municipal archives. In the lobby, an imposing staircase catches the eye of the visitor. Just in front, the entrance to the chapel: "It's the icing on the cake," enthuses the second-hand dealer, "the space will be reserved for dinners for about twenty guests." Part of the stained glass windows have been renovated.
Coming out of the chapel, a 67 m long red carpet is offered to walkers. Each second-hand dealers' cell of 10 to 30 m² is decorated with pine board cladding which allows in particular to hang part of the items on sale. "We broke everything, opened up each of the three floors of the building," lists Julien Cohen. Eight months of work were required. Carpenters, plasterers, electricians, have succeeded one another in the building since November 14, date of the launch of the site. "We will attack the first floor at the beginning of 2024," he says. Nineteen hotel rooms will be created. "I reserve a suite of 130m² overlooking the chapel for my visits here," he sketches.
Other houses in project
In this group of second-hand dealers and artisans of different styles in the heart of the historic district of the city, twenty-three professional second-hand dealers have selected a permanent stand out of the twenty-five offered for rent. Since Wednesday, the first second-hand dealers take possession of the premises. Jean-Pierre Pigalle, 76, comes from Ezy-sur-Eure (Eure-et-Loir). He believes in the project and has already participated in the outdoor flea markets organized every month. "I have always worked well here," says the dean of this house. Olivier Hannelin from Sens (Yonne) already has a stand in Avallon (Yonne) in another second-hand house of Julien Cohen, "here the renovation, it's exceptional" comments the professional.
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In the maze of 1500m², several objects hold the attention of the owner of the place such as "these four columns of a temple of Rajasthan at 5,800 euros, or these brick molds that cost 19 euros" describes Julien Cohen. There are also more incredible pieces like two bears in taxidermy guarding the corridor "I like it" says the man with blue glasses. "The main thing is that each visitor can find an object or start a collection," he adds.
And while the fourth house of second-hand dealers will open in France Saturday, the media second-hand dealer is already imagining his next projects. A fifth should be created in Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe) and two others are under consideration in Vesoul (Haute-Saône) and Langres (Haute-Marne). Ultimately, "I dream of a route of second-hand dealers' houses like the wine route," concludes Julien Cohen.
The house of second-hand dealers of Châteaudun, square de la Madeleine, will be open from Friday to Monday from 10 am to 18 pm.
