Corinne Valera known as “Coco” has been the owner of the bar-tabac de la Chaussée in Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne for forty years. She bought this local snack bar on April 21, 1984, which she transformed into a tobacco bar in 2003. Coco organized an evening with around a hundred people, friends, family and loyal customers on April 21, 2024 , symbolically, just forty years after the purchase of the bar.
In Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne, in 1984, there were four establishments. Today, Corinne Valera is the only one to have kept her bar. She is delighted with these forty years spent with customers. « Forty years ago, customers were on mopeds, today, they are parents, or even grandparents and come with their grandchildren to the bar. This is evolution! », explains Coco.
Retirement ? Not before 2026
The secret to longevity? Customers have their own ideas: « Coco is helpful and open to help », « She is spontaneous and you can always count on her »or « Coco is kind, honest and very smiling ».
However, after forty years, Coco must start planning for her retirement which will not be (at least) before 2026. « Clients will still see me for some time, retirement is not for now! And no matter when I leave, it will be difficult to leave the bar, I will never forget these years spent with the customers. »
