Par
Olivier Bacquet
Published on
Nov. 25, 2024 at 6:06 a.m.
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It had been closed for four months, since the previous boss closed the door and was placed in liquidation.
The only café in Fontaine-sur-Somme (Somme) reopened its doors in mid-November.
Villagers welcome this reopening
“It brings the village back to life, it’s something we’ve been waiting for,” enthuses Giovanni, one of the customers present that day.
“We will no longer need to travel miles to buy our bread,” adds Audrey, sitting next to him.
An active member of the local fishing society, the latter is delighted with this reopening for another reason: shares and fishing licenses will once again be able to be sold on site.
The Journal d’Abbeville on sale at “80’s”
New boss of the place, Fabrice Courtois will in fact offer the services that its various predecessors had put in place. The sale of fishing licenses, so important in this marsh region, is one of them.
“There is also a grocery store, snacks, a bread depot from the Huppy bakery, the sale of local newspapers including Le Journal d'Abbeville, and La Française des Jeux within two months,” promises the new boss.
Goodbye Claire Fontaine, welcome to the 80's
For the rest, it's difficult to recognize Claire Fontaine… who is no longer called that.
Fabrice Courtois took over the business with the desire to make a place in his image. In just a few weeks, he gave the bar a new lease of life.
New colors, new decor, new sound ambiance, background music played whenever you want… And even a new name, therefore: the 80's. “Pronounce it however you want,” he warns.
English or French, therefore, depending on whether we see the reference to the 1980s (the “eighties”, “the most beautiful decade”, smiles Fabrice), or the nod to the department 80, “ with whom I fell in love,” assures the boss.
From farrier to bar owner… the thousand lives of Fabrice
Because Fabrice Courtois is a newcomer to Fontaine. Or almost: he has lived there for two years, since he fell under the spell of the village when he came there by chance to buy a dog.
“I liked it so much that I bought a chalet, where I lived until I took over the bar,” he says. The fifty-year-old was then in full doubt about his future, he who kept bouncing from one job to another.
“I started as a farrier, I was a truck driver, I worked in construction and precision machining, I sold sports cars… I have always wanted change . But at 53, I want to settle down. »
He dreamed of taking over this bar where he was accustomed
He dreamed of taking over this bar, where he regularly came to drink his morning coffee, ever since his 18-year-old son suggested the idea to him. It was therefore with enthusiasm that he seized the opportunity.
And here he is in a warm place in his image. With music playing, a television for special occasions, an old Yamaha scrambler motorcycle in a corner, and his two Malinois Tess and Ruby lazing around, attentive to the customers.
“It’s nice, it’s a nice atmosphere,” concludes a third customer…
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