the essential
Trentels, small village between Fumel and Villeneuve-sur-Lot. For two years, an atypical couple has set up shop there, and above all, their ideas, to say the least, are off the beaten track.
The village of Trentels, along the Lot between Villeneuve-sur-Lot and Fumel, is entering the US world thanks to an atypical couple who have just moved there in October 2022, Justine and Florent.
“We have both been acrobats for many years. From a certain age (they are both a little over thirty), you have to start thinking about your career change” confides Justine. “This is the purpose of our installation here, a little by chance. For the moment, we work in Pont-du-Casse at the Petit Cabaret. We are the Duo Mechanic Circus. But I think this will be our last professional contract as intermittent performers, we will continue to do acrobatics, but for our friends, for our pleasure.
DMC
And when Justine explains the term “a little by chance”, it is justified. “We wanted to invest, but the banks do not lend to intermittent entertainment workers. With the exception of Crédit Agricole Aquitaine. We had the choice between several departments. And as Florient's mother is from the department, we opted for the Lot -et-Garonne”. And after some research, they came across a farm in Trentels, with buildings to renovate and land on the edge of the Lot and which suited their hopes perfectly.
Tattoo salon, nail salon and US spirit
When you arrive at the farmhouse, you can't go wrong, the US spirit is here. Above the entrance to the tattoo parlor, in a converted part of the barn, a replica of an American model from the 1950s. Here and there in the courtyard, a few old vehicles, all of US origin, some in working order, others awaiting restoration. We enter the large living room space.
Here, the US spirit predominates. Vintage plaques, a counter, Betty Boop, various accessories…, a nail salon, and in a separate room the tattoo studio. “For nail art, it's starting to work well. Before, I came to my home. And most of my clients now come here. For tattooing, I'm self-taught. I got into it during confinement, but I I've always drawn. It was easy for me to move from paper to skin. I must say that Florient served as a bit of a guinea pig for me (laughs). , I'm starting to feel know, especially in the world of old car enthusiasts and the world of entertainment.
And it is on the other side of the barn that the work is underway. “We want to make this place a friendly meeting place, able to host associations, concerts, shows. We also want to organize car gatherings, festive days around grills. We are in the process of training to provide catering with a food truck, but in the American style, with a huge smoking room.
And it is under the porch of the barn that the future food truck is located, a machine like we only see very, very rarely. An old Chevrolet truck, a Viking model; from the fifties. In the yard, a boat trailer. “It’s on it that we’re going to install the smoking room.” In another barn, it is Florient's workshop. In the middle, a huge Dodge, “direct from the United States”. From Texas more precisely if we refer to the license plate. “We’re not going to go unnoticed with this machine.”
Everything is clear in the couple's minds. “We're giving ourselves two years to get everything in place. It takes a lot of work, but it's worth it. We're going to bring a US spirit to the Trentels campaign.” And that is priceless.
How was this passion born?
“It's quite simple. At the beginning, we acquired a Citroën truck from 1931. We transformed it into our stage for our acrobatics show. We learned everything about mechanics and bodywork from a mechanic passionate about this world old cars, after a few years, we sold the truck and we put on our new show, but there with a moped we had caught the bug. We were performing at tattoo conventions, at gatherings. of cars. And here we go.”
