Former traders of the Béziers market halls: eight months after the closure for works, what has become of them ?

Geoffrey Poulaillon, in front of his new butcher's shop in Béziers, which opened last April. Mégane Fernandez Huet

Les halles de Béziers, l’un des plus beaux monuments de la ville, rouvriront leurs portes en novembre. Midi Libre

Retirement, new shop, reconversion… Many former shopkeepers of the Béziers market halls will not be present at the reopening, scheduled for November 2024, at the end of the major renovation work undertaken by the City. They testify to this change of life and their new projects. Some have bounced back easily, others remain bitter. 

The Béziers market halls, a must-see for local traders, closed their doors last February for several months of work, disrupting the professional lives of many of them.

The town hall, the owner, has entrusted the management of the premises to the company Biltoki. A change that, for many, marks the end of an era. Only seven of the former traders will be part of the new adventure of the market halls. The others have had to adapt, reinvent themselves.   

Odile Ranchon: from Rouget Bleu to the food truck specializing in crepes in Agde

Among them, Odile Ranchon, well known in Béziers for her fish stall, has had to turn to a new activity. “I didn't have a choice,” she explains, a little resigned. “I opened a food truck in the grounds of the Château Laurens in Agde. It's completely different from what I used to do." Indeed, the former fishmonger now offers savory and sweet crepes, a reconversion far from her habits. 

Odile Ranchon now runs a food truck in the grounds of the Château Laurens in Agde. Olivier Raynaud

The Béziers town hall supported the shopkeepers by paying them compensation to make up for the loss of business during the eight months of work. “I then had to take training to change my specialization and at my own expense”, she explains. For now, she has invested more than 30,000 euros. A sum that she considers “considerable for a forced change”.

Today, with her food truck installed in Agde, the restaurateur has logically lost her loyal clientele. “It's difficult, I knew I was going to have to leave so I anticipated things”, she emphasizes. Her son has in fact been running the business for a year now, an adventure that she joined, for her part, in June 2024.

Raymond Garcia, from the Marina, is retired

A departure with a bitter taste for Raymond Garcia, the former owner of the Marina bar. “It was a choice imposed by the town hall“, he says. In 1989, he took over the family business from his father, continuing a 45-year tradition. A story that ended abruptly on February 4th.

“We were assured that 100% of the shopkeepers who wanted to would return after the work, but in the end, only seven of us were able to stay”, he says. A disillusionment felt from Christmas 2023, when the merchants, demoralized, decided not to decorate their stands for the holidays. “We weren't there psychologically”, he confides.

Raymond Garcia worked for 35 years behind the counter of the Le Marina bar, in the central market halls of Béziers. Diane Petitmangin

"It's unique in France. It's the first town hall to force traders out of the market halls", he says, angrily. The compensation payments have also been a source of frustration. “The town hall wanted the work to move forward quickly, but it left us broke. It's a disaster", he says.

For Raymond Garcia, the consequences have been severe. Retiring at 64, he was unable to sell his business as he had planned in April 2024. “Other shopkeepers my age have returned to the market, but not me”, he laments. His retirement pension, amounting to 771 euros, does not allow him to live decently. “It's very difficult. We haven't been given any gifts. It's scandalous”, he laments.

Pastry chef Marc Cheillan is waiting to open his new shop

Marc Cheillan, a pastry chef who has been working in the Béziers market halls since February 2018, has been forced to close his stall. After 20 years in the town, where he had made a name for himself, the town hall's decision to transform the market halls left him perplexed. “I don't understand the approach”, he says before adding: “Bringing non-Biterrois businesses to benefit(among the new ones are indeed traders from elsewhere, Editor's note), it's incomprehensible“.

Over the years, his loyal and local clientele had placed their trust in him. He admits that it took him a long time to build his reputation and financially stabilize his business: “We were only notified a few months in advance. It was too short a time to leave my business and bounce back properly.”

Marc Cheillan in front of the premises of his future pastry shop on the Place des 140 in Cazouls-lès-Béziers.

According to him, the market halls needed renovation, but he believes that all the traders already there should have benefited from it.“We were not respected and we were taken for fools”, he says indignantly, referring to the loss of value of his business.

For 9 months, Marc Cheillan has had no income. He is trying to rebuild his life and has moved closer to Cazouls-lès-Béziers, where he hopes to open a new pastry shop. The project is slowly taking shape, in a municipal building located on the ground floor of the town's community center. “I'm starting from an empty shell”, he explains.

The project was delayed during the summer season. “I'm going to lay the first tiles in mid-October”, he explains, optimistically, despite the obstacles. Marc Cheillan misses the halles, which he considers to be “a shopping center for artisans”. 

Thierry Hund of Comptoir du Languedoc is still in shock

Established in the Béziers market halls since 1974, butcher Thierry Hund of Comptoir du Languedoc believes he was excluded from the project for this emblematic place. "I grew up in the market halls and I lived there", he confides with emotion. For him, the town hall's decision to redevelop the market halls was brutal. “I'm lost, I've never experienced anything else, so I'm taking the shock”, he says, very affected. “The announcement (of the works, Editor's note) was too quick and too violent”, he regrets.

Thierry Hund worked for over fifty years at the Comptoir du Languedoc in the Halles centrales de Béziers.

He was offered a return to the halls. “I was asked to think about it, but I'm not going to start again at my age”, he explains. “I don't have the drive anymore, I'm listless." Today, he had to move and store his equipment elsewhere, leaving behind part of his professional life.“It's not easy to manage the end of a company's life”, he concludes, visibly affected by this forced transition after nearly fifty years of service.

Sophie Sandonato opened the Boîte à fromage, in Béziers

In Sophie Sandonato's family, cheesemakers have been passed down from generation to generation. She took over from her mother, who herself continued the business of her own, which was set up in the covered market in 1968. When Biltoki announced its management, Sophie did not want to embark on the adventure. “I looked for premises in Béziers at the end of January when the market halls closed. And on February 22, I started the activity in the new store, at 22 rue Léopold-Dauphin”.

Sophie Sandonato has resumed the activity in a new store, at 22 rue Léopold Dauphin. Mathilde Jullien

Just a 3-minute walk from Place Sémard, she has found some of her regular customers, but not enough to look to the future with confidence: “I lost those from the weekend who took advantage of their shopping to go to the cheese shop. It remains very complicated. I can't wait for the market halls to reopen, I'm looking forward to it bringing some dynamism to the area, given that I stayed nearby, I hope to have more customers".

Laurent Dutour works full-time in his Super Frais shop in Béziers

Having worked in the market halls for three and a half years, Laurent Dutour saw himself staying there for many more years, but his application was not accepted by Biltoki : "There wasn't enough space for three greengrocers, regrets the one who owned another point of sale for eight years at 85 avenue Clemenceau. I am now there full time. I have about 20% of my customers from Les Halles who followed me".

Laurent Dutour also sells bread and groceries in his new store.

In his Super Frais store, he sells fruits and vegetables as well as bread and groceries: “At the market halls I only did greengrocers. The advantage is that now customers take a bit of everything, eggs, cheese. It increases the baskets a little even if it doesn't compensate for the loss of turnover of the market halls. I don't rule out taking a second point of sale in town, I'm waiting to see if there is an effect with the reopening of the market halls”.

Clément Rastouil embarks on a reconversion

After 37 years of existence in the market halls, Maison Rastouil has definitively closed its doors. Clément Rastouil had been working there for eight years: “I didn't apply to stay in the Biltoki market because of the rent and the investment needed in equipment”.

The stand of La Maison Rastouil, formerly present in the Halles de Béziers. Emmanuelle Boillot

He decided to reorient himself in a completely different sector of activity: “I completely stopped cooking and I no longer have a point of sale, I am currently retraining to practice another profession.”

Daniel Claverie now works at the Bernadou butcher's shop in Agde

Daniel Claverie had taken over from his uncle and after 25 years in the market halls, the 55-year-old butcher is no longer couldn't see himself taking out a loan and reinvesting in the butcher's shop. After the closure, he approached a butcher friend: “I went to see a friend with whom I passed the CAP, he hired me in his butcher's shop, Bernadou, in Agde and I have been working there for 5-6 months. On the other hand, one of my former employees at the market, aged 50, has not found work…”

Daniel Claverie was hired in the butcher's shop of one of his friends, in Agde. Mathilde Jullien

The butcher, who has reconnected with meat, gets on well with his new boss and is delighted to have found customers again: “I still got a few customers back from the market, about ten regulars who come to see me. One of them even stocked up, buying 300 euros worth of meat!”

Geoffrey Polaillon has relocated Selvo to Avenue Emile-Calpadède in Béziers

Geoffrey Poulaillon, a poultry farmer for around thirty years, was able to bounce back quickly after the closure of his business at the Béziers market halls on January 18, after four years of service.

Thanks to his savings and the compensation from the town hall, he was able to consider a new professional life. One of his clients offered him new premises. Although he received an offer to return to the market halls, he finally chose to set up on Avenue Emile-Claparède. “My working conditions are more comfortable. I have everything at the same level”, he rejoices. In addition to now being the owner of his business, Geoffrey appreciates having total control over his business. “I control everything from A to Z”, he says.

With more space in his premises, he plans to launch a range of game in October for the season. “There aren't many who make them in Béziers”, he says. However, he has had to adjust his window displays, notably by reducing his range of cheeses by half. “I had to make choices, but it didn't affect the turnover,” he assures us .

5 months after opening, the feedback from his customers is very positive despite the loss of a small percentage of them, compensated by the dynamics of the neighborhood. “My customers played the game and came back. They were happy for me", Geoffrey rejoices.

Daniel Prunonosa, from Pêche Marée, has gone to the Alpes-Maritimes

Daniel Prunonosa in the Béziers market halls, where he is no longer. DR

Since the closure in early 2024, Daniel Prunonosa, the fishmonger who took over Michel Camman's stand in 2021, has withdrawn from the company he owns with his brother, and left Hérault for the Alpes-Maritimes: “I deliver food for a company that has 6 bakeries and points of sale. In parallel with this activity, my project is to find a point of sale in Hérault, my research is still ongoing".

Constance Hubert continues her activity with Minalier Exotique

Trained as an agricultural engineer, Constance Kouadio Hubert promotes local products that she combines with exotic products.

Constance Kouadio Hubert promotes local products that she combines with exotic products. Free Midi

Since the closure of her stall in the market halls, she no longer has a shop but continues her online business with individuals and companies for whom she makes baskets and hampers. She has not ruled out looking for a new point of sale.

Sébastien and Amandine Mostaza have opened a new restaurant in Sauvian

After 13 years at the market halls, Sébastien and Amandine Mostaza had to turn a difficult page. The couple, who had taken over La Gargotte, closed their establishment on January 6. In March, they opened a new restaurant: La Cabane à Sauvian, offering "street food" and traditional dishes.

"We had put our business up for sale to take a break, and we had found a buyer, but the sale could not go through because of the work on the covered markets", explains Amandine. The amount of the compensation from the town hall was only half of the amount they would have received from the sale. “We worked for 13 years without being able to enjoy the fruits of our labor. It's like going back in time, with debts. It's very complicated today", she confides.

Sébastien and Amandine Mostazo are proud to have opened their new restaurant in Sauvian. Free Midi

Their new establishment is very different from the one in Les Halles: they no longer have a bar, and with that, they have lost a small part of their loyal clientele who came in particular to drink coffee in the morning.“We have lost this clientele who came to drink. Now they have to eat and some of them cannot afford to do so”, regrets Amandine. Despite everything, a majority of the old customers have followed them in this new adventure. “We're starting from scratch, we have to make a name for ourselves”, they conclude.

Antonella Parisi and her husband ready to open a new Italian restaurant soon

Established in Les Halles since 2019, Antonella Parisi and her husband, Sicilian caterers, have managed to seduce their customers with their Italian products. “We first had a small space at the back, then a larger one to bring dynamism at a time when the covered market was in decline”, Antonella says before adding: “We did indeed bring in customers so we took up the challenge.”

Two years ago, the couple invested a lot in a storeroom. “We got it for 15,000 euros. “We were at the end of our lives,” she laments. “They started making a profit in 2024, when work on the market halls began.” “We didn't know how to turn around, it was very difficult,” she confides. “

But the conditions offered in the new halls (rent multiplied by three, electric kitchen while they cook with gas, open six days a week) seemed too complicated to them. “It was impossible to return. We should have hired people, but we don't have the capacity,”, she explains.

Antonella Parisi in her former Sicilian restaurant in the Béziers market halls. Midi Libre

Today, they have a location near the market halls, but they have not been able to open because of the long procedures to be carried out. Their motivation: the calls, every week, from their former customers saying that they are impatiently waiting for their new business to open. “It is important for us to hear this, because we are devastated. It's hard to swallow the pill”, she confides.

The future? They will offer, as always, fresh products, real Italian cuisine with more aperitifs. They will also take advantage of this opportunity to offer delivery in order to reach more categories of people. "We believe in it, that's why we're getting back on track, we're trying to do everything to bounce back even if we've lost everything."

The Bousquet sisters work in their bakery on Boulevard du Four à Chaux in Béziers and have invested in a mobile truck

Installed in 1986 in the market halls, the Bousquet bakery was not selected by Biltoki to continue its activity. But Marie and Candy, the two sisters who took over the management when their parents retired last year, work in another bakery, opened since 1992, at 17 boulevard du Four-à-Chaux.

Marie Bousquet runs the bakery with her sister Candy. Midi Libre

And since the market halls closed, this other point of sale has recovered customers, says Candy: “We kept the market halls' hours, we close at 1pm and we start again at 3pm, and about 50% of our customers go down to the shop, those who have a car. It's more complicated for the elderly”.

The two sisters didn't intend to let their market hall employee, Coralie, go. So the family invested in a truck that the young woman uses to go to the markets in the villages, a new adventure for the Bousquets: “We had never been to the markets, it's interesting, rather than buying a point of sale, we pay around 4 euros for the location and electricity. We are making a figure that does not yet compensate for the loss of the covered market but which allows us to mop up".

Out of consideration for the loyal clientele for 30 years, the two sisters have not increased their prices: "We will take fewer holidays, laughs Candy, who hopes that the regulars will come back little by little, to get back on our feet".

The covered market after the work

Launched in February 2024, the renovation project of the Béziers market halls, undertaken by the City, is in full swing. The plan is already established for the locations of the 25 merchants chosen by Biltoki (including seven former ones). With the commercial part on one side and the gourmet part on the other. The City plans to open the fully renovated market halls next November, without specifying a date for the moment.

I subscribe to read the rest