Closure of the Odysseum Casino in Montpellier: a “heartbreak” for some, “serves well” for others

Des rayons vides de produits et de clients. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Opened in September 2009, the Odysseum hypermarket will not celebrate its 15th anniversary. On September 30, at 1 p.m., the curtain will fall for good. According to the national management, discussions are underway. In the store, the aisles are devastated. Staff and customers, divided.

“No, no comments.” In the central aisle, this Thursday at the very end of the morning, the two members of the management go back and forth, greeting the staff. They lose their smile in front of the journalist. No comment. The aisles speak for themselves. Empty. Deserted. Very few products to sell. And very few customers. Those who are there are mainly hoping to take advantage of the clearance sale.

"I hope there will be a new sign"

Like Maëva, alone with Mae, 1 year old, in a devastated childcare section : "It's sad to see the store like this. I'm thinking mainly of the staff. Before, I used to come and do the shopping, but it became too expensive. Now, I've come to see the clearance sale. A bib at 70% off, that interests me." Marianne, for her part, focuses on food : "I live in the Millénaire, two tram stops from here. I hope there will be a new sign. I have been coming for four years but now there are no more everyday products… I am disgusted, I like Casino. Before, I went to the one at La Lyre, I lived there.” She confides: “I am a former cashier at Monoprix Comédie, I talk to the staff. They are stressed, they are fed up. It is already a difficult job…”

“Since 1898. That is not nothing"

A few employees are busy here and there. They take the time to chat with each other as well as with customers. Seeing the store like this, “it’s heartbreaking, explains Clarisse (name changed), who has lost count of her years in this hypermarket. I like Odysseum, I like Casino. We were the oldest French commercial brand still in business. Since 1898. That's not nothing. I'm attached to Casino. We saw that it was deteriorating, that there were fewer and fewer products, fewer and fewer people. The first time we were told about it was in December…"

“Discussions are still ongoing”

So no recovery. On Monday, September 30, the store will close its doors for good. The official reason, according to a spokesperson based in Vitry: "the Casino group's refocusing on convenience stores". 

The employees have seen competing brands come and go. No follow-up. At least for the time being. "During the last few months, the Casino group, with the help of local elected officials, has been strongly mobilized to find a buyer, the national management told Midi Libre. Discussions are still ongoing, but to date, no offer has been finalized."

What about loyal customers ? They can use the balance of their kitty on site by September 30. They can also use it in "our local stores (Casino shop, Le Petit Casino, SPAR and Vival)", writes the spokesperson.

Since December, Clarisse has had time to do her analysis: “There are a lot of black spots. The rent was exorbitant. Afterwards, it's an open-air site, with escalators everywhere, but we don't have any that come directly to us. When it rains cats and dogs, customers have no choice: either they wait or they get soaked because at some point, there's no choice, you have to go. We don't have free parking either, after two hours you have to pay, that plays a role. And above all, we don't have a gas station."

"I'll be able to bounce back"

What Clarisse will do after, she doesn't know yet. Marie (assumed name) is in the same situation. Or almost. She doesn't yet know what tomorrow will bring. Yet she admits to herself “Almost happy in fact that it's closing.”I'm young, I'm going to do training and do something else. I'll be able to bounce back. It's a shame, 90% of the time, we got on well. It's a big family. That's what I'm going to miss: the bond we had with each other on a daily basis."

"When I see the Ricoré box at 9 €…"

A little further on, this collaborator has no qualms. It's closing ? "That's well done ! It's catastrophic, but it's well done. When I see the Ricoré box at 9 euros, when it can be found elsewhere at 6 euros and even less… Prices like that were unsustainable for the customer. And it wasn't just since inflation or Covid.”

Cruel. But a feeling shared by others. In particular, some shopkeepers in the nearby shopping centre who did not shop next to their shop, particularly because of the prices. Now all that remains is to find a use for these empty 12,000 m2 of commercial space. A gaping hole.

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