“When it closes in Paris, it closes in Alès. It’s annoying!” : what is this operation to revitalize commerce in the city center ?

The town hall presented this initiative in front of one of the proposed commercial premises, located rue Albert-Ier. FREE MIDI – CHARLES LEDUC

Le second local commercial se trouve à proximité des halles de l'Abbaye. MIDI LIBRE – CHARLES LEDUC

The municipality of the capital of the Cévennes, in Gard, is joining forces with an association so that shops can reopen. Calls for applications have already been launched.

The signals turn red for city center commerce in Alès. "It's suffering…", slips Max Roustan, the mayor of the capital of the Cévennes. His first deputy Christophe Rivenq, also president of the Agglomeration, speaks of a past "vacancy"  60~em>"from 8 % to 12 %" and notes that’"there are more who close than others who open". And it is true that the shops with closed doors sometimes stand out to Alésiens: rue Sauvage, Grand’rue, rue Saint-Vincent, rue d’Avéjan, etc. "After the shock of the virus, the franchises had some problems. And when it closes in Paris, it closes in Alès. It’s boring !", laments Max Roustan.

"This has been done elsewhere and it works", says Christophe Rivenq

Faced with such an observation, "because we love businesses, we tried to find solutions", engages the first magistrate. Consequently, so that shops do not remain closed, the City turns to an association, BGE in this case, and launches the operation "My business to me", which is based on the principle of a call for projects. "For people who are looking for commercial premises and to support them on the amount of rent and management", specifies the councilor. "We spoke about it to the traders during our last meeting", declared Christophe Rivenq. "We're not inventing anything ; this has been done elsewhere and it works."

The principle of a commercial nursery

The principle is, therefore, that of a commercial nursery. "We have been using this program since 2019 and we have sixteen cells that work very well", says Géraldine Magnard, BGE consultant and trainer. "Companies are sustainable after three years of support." Specifying that’"you have to prepare your project carefully", this focuses in particular on the rent policy adopted: "moderate and progressive".

Two premises are offered to candidates

To launch the operation, two commercial premises in the heart of the city are selected. The first, with a sales area of ​​43 m2, is located at 11, rue Albert-Ier; It once served as a hairdressing salon. The second, of approximately 60 m2, is located on the Place de l’Abbaye, "well placed as part of the rehabilitation of the central market&quot ;, notes municipal councilor Cyril Laurent; it’s the former Florazur florist. For each of these lots, candidate entrepreneurs can already register on the website www.ales.fr.

A decision will be made in August

Applications for the operation "My business & me" are open and running until July 12. This is done on the City's website and candidates will be received gradually. measure. À By mid-August, the harvested files will be presented to you. a committee of selection composed, according to the town hall of Alès, "of professionals from the economy and commerce& ;quot;. In September, the first winner will take possession of the premises, as will specific support for all candidates. Finally, the first store should be inaugurated at the end of September. Please note, if the profile of the candidates (craftsmen, traders and other professionals) is very broad, activities are excluded from the call for applications. application: catering, snacking, bar, café aesthetic care, wellness activities and regulated liberal professions.

Depending on the results obtained at the start of the school year by "My business to me", the system could be extended to other commercial spaces in the city center. Even other neighborhoods! Thus, Christophe Rivenq immediately turns his attention to Grand-rue Jean-Moulin, currently being reclassified, where eight spaces will be reserved for professionals.

Consuming as close as possible to home

At the same time, the municipality says it still wants to continue its action to encourage Alesians to consume as close as possible to their homes. The first deputy is categorical: "We believe in the commerce of the heart of the city and we are banking on it!"