Nestled in the Vallon des Auffes since 1938, L’Epuisette is a well-known address for gourmets in Marseille. However, this institution will have to close its doors in application of the Coastal Law.
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The ax will fall on December 31, the Epuisette will definitively draw the curtain. The end of an institution almost 90 years old in Marseille. The Michelin-starred restaurant, nestled at the entrance to the cove of Vallon des Auffes, in the 7th arrondissement, facing the sea, will have to close its doors. A hard blow for its owner, its chef and the 22 employees who ensured the smooth running of the 40-seat restaurant. France 3 Provence-Alpes explains why.
The Métropole ends the occupation authorization for Epuisette
It was by a letter from the Metropolis dated October 22 that the owner of the establishment, created in 1938, was informed that the community was terminating the authorization to occupy the maritime public domain, owned by the Status as of December 31, 2024. A letter signed by Didier Réault, the vice-president (LR) delegated to the Littoral.
L’Epuisette may have been installed on this site for more than 80 years, and Guillaume Sourrier has been heating the stoves for 24 years, the restaurant “benefited from a temporary authorization for 46 years, which was renewed regularly until December 31”, recalls Didier Réault. He emphasizes that the Metropolis is only applyingEuropean rules, transcribed into French law in 2017, which require the site to be put into competition.
There is no desire to clean up or renew, there is a desire to ensure free competition.
Didier Réault, vice-president (LR) of the Metropolis, delegate for the Coast.France 3 Provence-Alpes
A call for applications was launched last spring for the renewal of the occupancy title on January 1.
The choice of The Social Club and Coline Faulquier
L’Epuisette, like two other restaurants, applied to the Métropole’s call for tenders and placed second. “A commission met and selected the file which presented the best guarantees and the best proposals, unfortunately it is not the Epuisette, it is that of “The Social Club” which meets all the economic criteria , investments, environmental and having a starred chef“, and according to Didier Réault.
The chef is none other than Coline Faulquier, revealed by the show Top chef in 2016, at the head of the Michelin-starred restaurant Signature, rue du Rouet (8th).
Coline Faulquier “comes with proposals for investment in the premises, taking over employees, and perhaps even proposing to Bernard Bonnet, the manager of L’Epuisette, to buy the brand from him”, explains Didier Réault, who sees it “a transmission of the spirit of L’Epuisette with modernization”.
The start of a legal battle
“What revolts the teams is the lack of respect, why wipe the Epuisette off the map? What’s the point?” exclaims Bernard Bonnet, who receives numerous testimonies of support.
“L’Epuisette has been in the Bonnet family since 1976”, recalls the one who has managed the establishment for 32 years. This decision is obviously extremely painful for us, for the team and for Marseille, because L’Epuisette is part of the cultural, gastronomic and tourist heritage” of the city.
“The first reflex is a colossal feeling of injustice,” he said while acknowledging that this decision is not a surprise. Bernard Bonnet does not intend to stop there. He takes the matter to court. “This regulation dates from 2017 and since then, we have contested it, we say that it does not concern us because our conventions predate this law, he adds, we pretend that we are not concerned, due to our activity and our history, it will be a legal battle.”
