The billiard bar Le Snooker vibrated on Tuesday evening in the colors of local commerce. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their common calendar, traders from the Angers station area came together to celebrate a decade of collaboration and mutual aid, having succeeded in creating a real “village within the city”.
A project born from a desire to create links
The adventure began ten years ago, when Christian, one of the managers of the Diagonal store, imagined a common calendar to bring together the neighborhood’s merchants. His ambition? Create synergy between local actors and energize the neighborhood. The idea immediately appealed to Stéphane, who took charge of publishing and distribution, relying in particular on the frequentation of the Diagonal store. “From the beginning of December, our customers have been asking us for it at the checkout,” confides Étienne, the second manager of Diagonal, thus illustrating the residents’ enthusiasm for this project. Having become a real vector of social connection, the calendar is now available in most stores in the station area.
A pool of diversified businesses
From the Brasserie de la Gare to the caterer Dominique Chameau, including Luxe Mobilier and local insurers, the calendar highlights the diversity of businesses present in the sector. The Hôtel Marguerite, opposite the castle, makes its debut in the 2025 edition: Pierre-Louis and Christophe were seduced by the calendar, an ideal support to promote their café and tea room to local residents during the work on the square Kennedy. This evening was also an opportunity to present new arrivals in the neighborhood: Stella, future manager of the restaurant Le Relais, for her part, underlined the importance of this network to create an attractive commercial dynamic: “Being surrounded by “other restaurants or brasseries is absolutely not a hindrance, on the contrary, it is what attracts customers”.
A fruitful partnership with Angers Info
Since this year, Angers Info has joined this initiative, demonstrating the growing interest in local commerce. This partnership allows on the one hand to give greater visibility to the calendar and on the other hand to strengthen the link between local media and traders.
An attachment to the neighborhood
Beyond the commercial aspect, this evening highlighted the attachment of merchants to their neighborhood. Many former players in the sector made the trip, testifying to the evolution of the neighborhood and the sustainability of these relationships. It was a friendly evening where everyone was able to talk over a drink and a few snacks about anecdotes with their customers or remember the arrivals and departures of traders.
Local commerce, an asset for the neighborhood
This calendar is much more than just a communication tool. It is a real vector of social ties which contributes to the vitality of the station sector. By highlighting the diversity of businesses, it encourages residents to consume locally and support the local economy.
A promising future
With the arrival of new traders and the dynamism of those already present, the future of the traders’ calendar looks promising. This initiative is a good example of what local commerce can provide: conviviality, social ties and a varied commercial offer, meeting the needs of residents.
In conclusion, This evening was an opportunity to celebrate a great collective success. The traders at Angers station have been able to create a real network, serving residents and the economic development of the district.
You can download the digital version of the 2025 calendar here.
