Little Tourangeaux as they say themselves, Rémy Blancheton and Arnaud Lecocq will play a big role in the site of the former Saint-Gatien clinic with their La Belle Vie project. They were chosen by the Set (Touraine Equipment Company) to make this place an unmissable spot in the city, with a gourmet market based on the very fashionable food court model. Many large cities offer them, but one of their models was the Felicità, in a former maintenance center in the 13e district of Paris.
Six catering centers on the ground floor
“We wanted an installation in a large location, attracting. And above all, we wanted to be the first to offer this concert in Touraine, they explain. The first step was ordering a market study from a very serious firm. Each of the 70 pages is packed with valuable information. A proposal was made to us for Les Carmeries, in Joué-lès-Tours, but with an opening not before 2028 in the best case, which is too late for us. We contacted the town hall of Tours, which directed us towards the Metropolis then towards the Set. This is how we submitted our project for Saint-Gatien. »
It is developed on two levels: firstly a ground floor (600 m2), with an opening on the Cathedral Square, allowing access to six catering centers with varied offerings (burger, Lebanese or vegetable, Asian, Italian and a pastry chef, the only one to offer desserts). The search for service providers continues.
“These brands will not compete with each other. They will be open from 9 a.m. to midnight, with suggestions any time of day, every day. Customers will be able to order either by a QR Code or at the stand, where they will pay, explains Arnaud Lecocq. There will be no service. A bar will be located in the heart of the hall. »
1,5
It corresponds in millions of euros to the investment, with works and working capital.
Events will also be planned, a bit in a tavern spirit. The operators would also like to be able to install a terrace outside, facing the cathedral, one of the last in the country not to be in a pedestrian area.
Opening on 1is mars 2026
On the fifth and last floor will be the long-awaited rooftop, the first in Tours, with a view to the west over Saint-Gatien Cathedral and to the east over the roofs of the old town. It will extend over 300 m2 covered, plus 150 m2 on the terrace. More than 200 seats. There will be a bar, with cocktails, and a tapas restaurant “well cooked and without competition with the products on the ground floor”, continues Rémy Blancheton.
Owner of the walls, the Set wanted a single contact for both levels. To operate this system, the partners will rent the poles on the ground floor. And will in turn pay rent to the Set. Who says big project says big investment: almost 1.5 million euros with the work. The opening is scheduled for 1is March 2026, with bubbles on the rooftop.
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Friends, associates and complements
Rémy Blancheton first worked in an electricity and plumbing company, with around a dozen employees. He sold it, then set up as a property merchant. He also started the distillery two years ago, with Belladone, in Sorigny. He likes to launch projects and bring them to fruition. Arnaud Lecocq has managed the Le Puzzle bar on rue de Châteauneuf since 2014. He developed a passion for catering in Australia and then, upon his return, worked in several establishments before setting up his own business. He worked on a tavern project in Savonnières, in old greenhouses, but had to give up due to too many difficulties. To his friend Rémy, he said he was ready for a new project. Bank. The two partners are complementary.
