this small town in Haute-Vienne is looking for a buyer to relaunch the old bar-restaurant

The town of Eyjeaux, near Limoges, wants to revive its bar-restaurant, closed for more than two years. To find a viable buyer who meets the expectations of residents, it turned to the Limoges Métropole agglomeration and an association, which developed a project and a call for applications.

“The bar part… The catering part, which can have around forty seats…“Like a real estate agent, the mayor of Eyjeaux, near Limoges, guides us from room to room to extol the merits of the bar-restaurant. Located in the town center of this town of one thousand three hundred souls, The establishment has remained desperately empty for more than two years. For the councilor, it is heartbreaking: “People need to meet, people can exchange… What we want is for the project leader to soak up a little of the atmosphere of the village, to be somewhere , a promoter of our town.“

The last two attempts to take over this business ended in failure. This time, the municipality, owner of the premises, decided to rely on Limoges Métropole. The community of municipalities is legally competent in matters of revitalization of town centers. “This is becoming a major issue, particularly for limiting space consumption.explains Stéphanie Dumarquez, project manager for the revitalization of town centers for Limoges Métropole. We want services to be as close as possible to residents and for these communities to benefit from places of conviviality, entertainment and events around social ties.“

When consulted, the Egalians expressed their desire for a business including several services: drinks and catering, of course, but also a bread store and a small grocery store. Above all, they want to see a place of life reborn. Pascal Myter, a resident of the village, would like to see organized, for example, “recreational, intergenerational days, with local children and elderly people“, but also “theme evenings“.

To collect these expectations, Limoges Métropole commissioned “la Fabrique à Initiatives”. This system, supported by a regional association, has developed specifications for candidates. “All ideas and solutions emerge from the territory and the inhabitantssays Agathe Perego, project manager for Fabrique à Initiatives. It's not us who bring them. We are experts in bringing all of this to fruition into a project that holds up economically.“

A call for expressions of interest is open until December 31. A selection committee will then be formed, composed in particular of a representative of the Fabrique à Initiatives, an economic expert from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local elected officials and residents. After studying the files, he will choose a buyer at the beginning of 2025.