Chez Michou, emblem of Montmartre and cabaret, could soon belong to… Gad Elmaleh. Justice chose the actor and comedian to buy the business of the legendary Parisian establishment, in liquidation, according to the judgment consulted Tuesday by AFP. Gad Elmaleh “will make it a place of comedy and humor, while keeping the soul of the place”, indicated this Tuesday the actor’s communications department, which however has not bought the “Chez Michou” brand.
After the death of its founder Michou at the beginning of 2020, the iconic transformist cabaret experienced financial difficulties which led it to go into liquidation in mid-July. The 23 employees, made redundant, left the premises when they closed at the end of June, before the establishment’s 68th anniversary.
“It will no longer be called At Michou »
For Catherine Catty-Jacquart, Michou’s niece, Gad Elmaleh will continue to keep 80 rue des Martyrs alive, which has fallen into good hands, as Michou would have liked. We would have been unfortunate if the place became anything other than a cabaret. It won’t be called anymore Chez Michoubut Gad is going to make it a very beautiful place. It’s a very good thing to turn the page, by taking a turn. »
In his memoirs published in 2017, Michou expressed the wish that his cabaret would not survive him. “I want this house to disappear with me. It may seem pretentious but the cabaret will not survive me,” he assured.
VideoDeath of Michou: farewell in Montmartre blue
The Michettes are delighted with this recovery. “We talked about this news with former colleagues and we are very happy that the place is coming back to life with or without Michou’s name. It would have been very sad if this legendary scene no longer saw artists passing by,” confides Antoine Chaudeur, the youngest of Michettes, as Michou baptized his artists.
This transformist, now 23 years old, was baptized Chouchou when he arrived in the cabaret, in homage to the character played by Gad Elmaleh. A strange wink which makes Antoine believe that he will perhaps one day return to the small stage on which he played Rika Zaraï for three years. “Gad Elmaleh hasn’t contacted us but you never know, maybe he will invite us to perform one day in his new comedy club,” hopes the former Michette.
The mayor (PS) of the 18th century, Eric Lejoindre, sees “a good surprise and good news” in this buyout project. “We weren’t aware at town hall. Gad Elmaleh is a serious person who I would be happy to meet when the time comes. What is good is that Chez Michou remains a place of spectacle and humor as it projects. »
“This place retains its artistic dimension”
For the residents of the neighborhood, it’s relief “The Michou page is definitely turning and it’s sad but the takeover by Gad Elmaleh is excellent news because this place retains its artistic dimension and there was no Comedy yet club in Montmartre. I will hasten to contact the comedian to ask him to be the godfather of our Christmas market,” says Brice Moyse, president of the Lepic-Abbesses traders’ association.
“Gad Elmaleh played Chouchou, a transvestite, and now he is buying from Michou: there is no coincidence,” comments Zélia, the wedding dress designer from rue d’Orsel, friend of the Blue Prince of Montmartre. I am relieved to know that this place that I have frequented for 40 years will continue to host shows and that it will not become a coffee shop. »
An opinion that this resident of the neighborhood does not share. “This place which is part of the soul of Montmartre will become yet another Comedy Club. There are more than ten in Paris, while the cabaret at Michou was unique in its kind. »
Elmaleh’s music, invested in dance by stand-up
By purchasing a place dedicated to humor, Gad Elmaleh joins the long list of comedians to have a comedy club in Paris. First of all, Jamel Debbouze and his Jamel Comedy Club. This is also the case for Fary (“Madame Sarfati”, in the 1st arrondissement), Kev Adams (“the Fridge” in the 2nd) and even Baptiste Lecaplain (“the Joke”, 4th).
The director of “Coco” is above all one of the rare stand-up heavyweights to rub shoulders almost daily with the younger generation in these comedy sets organized in small rooms. He notably has his regulars in Paris at the Paname Art Café (Xe), a famous comedy club which is among the pioneers of the genre.
This acquisition also shows to what extent the 53-year-old artist wishes to establish himself in the institutional landscape of French-speaking laughter. The Moroccan-Canadian comedian, who is preparing to celebrate his 30th career next December in Montreal, where he started, announced last June the launch of another major project: a new international festival of humor which will be held in Nice in October 2025. Event that he will organize hand in hand with Grégoire Furrer, Swiss boss of the Montreux Comedy Festival.
