Press: for fifteen years, regulars have been going to Benjamin

A star of the Castanet neighborhood!

Benjamin Darsonval has been managing the Castanet newsagents for 15 years. He started with his father and now continues with his partner. He is there from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day and takes two afternoons off on Sunday and Monday.

A lot of customers, regulars, say familiarly: “We're going to Benjamin's.” When asked why, the answer comes immediately: “He's adorable!”, say the ladies, “helpful” say the gentlemen. Behind this apparent calm, he comes alive if you talk to him about sport, and especially football! He has pennants of his favourite club, Auxerre, hanging from the ceiling of the shop, and an unusual clock on the wall. He was surprised to see Christophe Cocard, a famous Auxerre footballer who lives in Nîmes, enter his shop.

Benjamin sells newspapers, books, bus tickets, stationery, makes photocopies, changes watch batteries, Delivering and receiving parcels from Mondial Relay means he has to go back and forth continually from his till to the room at the back of his shop… Not enough to slow down someone who was introduced to serving customers at an early age: “My parents had a business. From the age of fourteen, I was often at the pump, to serve gasoline." While Benjamin provides his services with patience and dexterity, he hides a talent that some of his customers know: his sense of humor! "I like to tease customers!" He has spotted some who like to joke. Sometimes the shop becomes a mini improv theater for a moment! Holy Benjamin!

Midi Libre correspondent: 06 51 11 97 66

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