How Burger King “negotiated” with residents and town hall to settle in this emblematic street of Paris

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To celebrate the opening of the new Burger King located at 286 rue de Vaugirard (Paris, 15th) Thursday October 31, 2024, the brand saw the big picture: floor markings, competitions on social networks and invitations. It must be said that the announcement of the construction of the restaurant in 2023 had sparked heated controversy.

Also on the side of the town hall of the 15th which always claims to be “opposed” to the project and who decided not to go to the inauguration, as well as local residents who had launched a petition in May of the same year to say “no to the Burger King”. She had collected at the time nearly 1,000 signatures.

The town hall denounces the concentration of fast food

In 2021, following the departure of a Steakhouse, the location remained empty for many months and fell almost abandoned, giving a dilapidated image of the neighborhood. But about a year and a half ago, work began. Residents inform the town hall that a Burger King is under construction. For many months, elected officials tried – without success – to change the position of the Bertrand group (responsible for the deployment of Burger King in France) by offering to install other, more traditional restaurant brands instead.

“We already had a KFC and a McDonald’s in the neighborhood. For us, the fast food offer was sufficient », explains to Paris news Pierre Menuet, deputy mayor in charge of commerce and crafts.

On the side of the Saint-Lambert de Vaugirard collective – at the origin of the petition – we fear a “deterioration of the surrounding public spaces” and the “deterioration of public spaces in the neighborhood” to justify this opposition.

“Important means” to combat noise and olfactory pollution

After a tough battle, the inhabitants gradually gave up. To be accepted, Éric Angelvy, manager of the restaurant, admits having had to make “major gestures”towards them. An interior terrace with 40 seatsoverlooking a building courtyard, has for example been removed. “It’s a strong commitment on our part,” he adds.

Efforts have also been made to combat noise and odor pollution, the main complaint of opponents of the project. The Burger King manager claims to have put “significant means” . Ozone cannons which “perfectly control odors”, “sound traps which completely cut off noise” and latest generation hosts have been installed. The air conditioning has also been refurbished.

And after four days of opening, these efforts seem to have paid off. “Our customers are present in large numbers. They all tell us that the place is beautifulwith in particular this games area which appeals to families,” says Éric Angelvy.

A meeting is to be held soon with the town hall

One last point remains unresolved on the town hall side: that delivery men . “Today, this is our greatest fear. We would like them to travel by bicycle or electric scooter only,” explains Pierre Menuet. For Éric Angelvy, this problem does not exist, because the delivery people represent a “tiny part of the turnover of Burger King in France.

This question – which concerns delivery platforms – will be “one of the areas worked with Burger King” during of a meeting which is to be held at the town hall of the 15th arrondissement during the month of November.

The question of employment will also be on the agenda for discussions. For this restaurant, 65 people were hired on permanent contractsthanks to the help of the Pôle emploi du 15e, explains Éric Angelvy. In the future, the town hall would like the restaurant's new employees to all be residents of the borough.

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