€3.1 million: this is the price you will have to pay to acquire the Capoulié, a historic building in the center of Montpellier

Le Capoulié is one of the Haussmanian type buildings in the center of Montpellier. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

After the abandonment of the project led by François Fontès, the City is putting up for sale part of the ground floor over an area of ​​more than 1,000 m² of this building between station and Comédie. She hopes to attract a large commercial brand and thus restore the nobility of rue Maguelone. 

Abandoned for years, the Capoulié is officially for sale. Pricing: 3.1 M€. By launching a call for expressions of interest, the City hopes to attract a large brand to this historic building on rue Maguelone, between the Comédie and the station. No names have been filtered yet. "The ink on the legal announcement is not yet dry!" explains Alban Zanchiello. On the other hand, the sales assistant intends to attract "a major brand" to occupy space. Let 1,051 m² in total on three levels: 241 m² in the basement, 474 m² on the ground floor,  376 m² mezzanine. There's plenty to do!

Why François Fontès (Ametis) threw in the towel ?

More for François Fontès in any case who ended up throwing in the towel. The boss of Ametis, at the head of the Sauramps bookstores, won the competition in 2018. His project ? "A connected annex of Sauramps" he confided again to Midi Libre in 2022. Alas. A neighbor's appeal, which was unsuccessful, caused the person concerned to lose two years. "The health crisis, changes in commercial practices and a dispute over the building permit delayed the project, leading to the impossibility of continuing the operation, including the withdrawal was confirmed in June 2023 by the project leader", indicates a deliberation of the municipal council of last December 11. 

Facade renovation and marquise removed

Future buyers will have difficulty getting an idea of ​​the architecture of the building since it is hidden by a large blue tarpaulin and scaffolding. The co-ownership trustee, of which the City is a member, decided to renovate the facade which badly needed it. "The marquise was removed to be restored", reassures Alban Zanchiello. This ornament – very useful to protect against the rain – is one of the characteristics of this Haussmanian-style building built in 1897. It housed the department store "Paris-Montpellier" of which an inscription still extols the merits: "Silk, Fashion, Confections, Shoes, Whites, Furnishing". 

A large tarpaulin covers the facade which is currently being renovated. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

"Many people, arriving from the station, discover Montpellier via rue Maguelone, explains the business representative. As an extension of the Comédie which is getting a new look, we want to rework the terraces, the furniture and the quality of the shops." The City wants to avoid the proliferation of fast food restaurants, one of which is still under administrative closure, opposite Capoulié after a fire. A much needed requalification. But easier said than done.  

The history of Capoulié

Built in 1897, the Capoulié first hosted a department store, the "Paris-Montpellier", ancestor of the Galeries Lafayettes. The building long housed the editorial staff of Midi Libre until 2007. Then purchased by the City, this space successively houses the office of tourism then the Maison de la Prévention until 2016 and the youth space closed at the beginning of 2018. As the project carried out by Ametis did not see the light of day, the ground floor The roadway remains desperately empty since that date.

I subscribe to read more