La Brûlerie, a historic café adjoining the Halles de l'Abbaye, opened this Friday, January 3 in a temporary location, while the market works.
Its legendary doors decorated in red have been closed since Tuesday, December 31. But on the window, we see clearly marked a note saying that the Brûlerie can be found 50 meters further down, in the premises of the former Benoît clothing store, at the corner of Place de l'Abbaye and Rue of the Republic.
Moving change
This move had been planned for a long time. In the midst of work, the Halles de l'Abbaye are currently being renovated, to reopen, brand new, by June 2025. The renovation also concerns the premises of the Brûlerie, which the Rédarès family has been running since, already, 31 years old.
The last day, Tuesday, “it did something to me”confides Marilyne Rédarès. “When I started working at this place, 31 years ago,” she says, “I received a group of clients who were, at the time, the age I am today. Today 'Today, only one of this group is still alive, and she came for the last day on Tuesday. It was moving to be reunited that day, with her who had experienced my first day!'
A future adapted café
In the premises of the former clothing store, the café managed to find a rather suitable arrangement. The first room houses the store part, the second, at the back, the café part with tables and chairs. An arrangement that seems to suit today's customers: “You should stay here all the time!”points out one of them.
However, that’s not what’s on the agenda. In June, once the halls open, La Brûlerie will return to its historic location. “It will be a nice locationcontinues Marilyne Rédarès, but not in the same form.” According to the project, the café, which will return to its previous outdoor terrace, will also have a service space in the halls, “open to the market”inside.
On the financial side, this temporary change should not have too much impact on trade. There is concern, however, about the absence of an outdoor terrace in this temporary location. If the customers do not come as numerous as before, “we risk having to put part of our team on technical unemployment.”
At any rate, “Customers only have to walk a few meters to find us.” The future new Brûlerie aux halles is well planned, but will not however be adorned with its legendary red.
