the essential
Many changes have punctuated commercial life.
The Ruthenian bistro and restaurant landscape had a great year. A year 2024 as lively as the “gunshot” in the kitchen of a very large restaurant. The Central 1882, by moving a few meters, place de la ville hall, to integrate the CCAS building and make way for the construction of the hall was only the entry on the 2024 menu. An entry of choice in the measure where it is a completely new place which was opened to the public, quickly elevated to the level of an institution, as the business is always full.
Another “case” which has completely changed its look and purpose: the Siphon. At the end of the year, it became the Marquise. Pascal Perrié has indeed left his café facing the Palais de Justice. Thirty years he kept this business on Boulevard de Guizard alive. Magali and Julien Estivals have very tastefully transformed it into a brasserie. These two businesses are the two to have undergone a fundamental transformation.
Changes behind the scenes too
Then, it was mainly changes behind the scenes that took place. And there were many that concerned matters known to the city! Hélène Tonglet and Anthony Carel took over the Café du Bourg at the end of this year. In the spring, Charles Bru and Charlotte Catusse took over the reins of the Grand Café, following the Brunet brothers, who feast at the Gargouille, set their sights on the Rotonde near the Place de la Madeleine.
Recently, François Couret, another figure in Ruthenian restoration, sold the Loggia to the Marcillac family.
While the pizzeria des Remparts, another institution, has been taken over by Philippe Carrié who, with the head pizza maker Yannick Pailhas, who has been behind the oven for 23 years, form a new team.
We can also note Elodie and Julien Bimes Beck who have been active since February at the Cantina, on the city tour; Vitor and Paula Maia opened their restaurant “Chez Maia” in Saint-Eloi, La Maison, by Luc Pourrat, opened “Le pantry” a few steps from his business on rue Louis-Oustry (where Elfée des crepes was located ), El Copa opened its doors on rue de Bonald in place of La Pachole. We can also mention Hairdine Nadjidou and Assia Dkhissi who took over the management of Calcio at the Saint-Étienne crossroads in Rodez or even “Le petit restaurant” which opened its doors at the bottom of avenue Victor-Hugo.
Finally, this end of the year saw Joëlle Ferréol close the page of the Maison des thés. Which opens a new chapter in the history of Ruthenian catering for 2025, since the Abyss restaurant will leave rue de la Barrière to occupy this new address.
At the end of December, Joëlle Ferréol closed the story of the Maison des thés
After 17 years of delighting her customers, Joëlle Ferréol decided to turn off the stoves at the Maison des thés. “We will miss her” do not hesitate to say the many customers, most of whom were loyal and for some even became friends over time.
It is with her passion for cooking that the woman who, until then, delighted the Ruthenians with her bouquets of flowers, amazed their taste buds with her cordon bleu talent. To the point of making this Tea House a restaurant with a very good reputation.
In a few weeks, new scents will fill the restaurant. It is in fact the Table d’Abyss which will take up residence, marking a new page in the history of catering in Rodez.
And if we add the Café Ruthéna which serves more and more coffees at its new counter on the Place du Bourg, this Michelin star which was lit above Hervé Busset’s restaurant, on this same square, we can say that the year 2024 was rather rich. That “the shot” was fueled! Now let’s see what the year 2025 will look like in this area.
The fashionable food trade
By the admission of city center manager William Fraysse, and in view of exchanges with his colleagues working in other cities, the catering sector, in the broad sense, is growing. “If there are indeed more and more cooking shows, it seems that people are cooking less and less while still wanting to eat well, creating a deployment in this sector,” he slips. “So much so that some towns are very vigilant about the opening of these businesses, so as not to prevent the arrival of other non-food businesses and to preserve a diversity of offerings.”
And in Rodez, there is the specificity in addition to seeing the “Aveyronnais of Paris” return to the fold and bring all their professionalism in the matter. Thus giving a boost to the Ruthenian brewery and catering sector.
Enough in any case to ensure real emulation. “In the country, it is also a profession that is experiencing real turnover among business managers. We also see managers joining forces more and more to acquire them.”
