The café-grocery store in this Seine-Maritime village is one of the “100 PMU bars that make France”

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The managers of thegrocery bar from Mesnières-en-Bray (Seine-Maritime) have reason to be happy. Their business “Au village”, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last summer, appears in a new guide entitled “PMU, the 100 bars that make France”.

Indeed, for the first time, PMU establishments are celebrated in a unique work of its kind released in bookstores on November 14.

This café: village life

Pour Valérie and Régis Blactotappear in this national guide is a great reward for their daily work. “We are very satisfied because we participate in the life of our municipality. Here, people come looking for conviviality. We have a very loyal clientele and we thank them” insists Valérie.

Between two scratch games, a few coffees and the sale of a pack of cigarettes, the manager takes advantage of a little hunger to continue:

It's very nice to be recognized for your work because you have to admit that you're not idle. We get up at 5 a.m. and never come back up before 9 p.m. On Wednesday, we go shopping. We only have Sunday afternoon left to rest.

Predictions every day

However, Valérie and Régis love this work. And they wouldn't change it for the world. “We like to be of service but also enjoy relationships with people. We spend all our time there and we have no life. But we both have commercial souls.”

In the recently published guide, “Au village” is referenced in the category “localist channel, involved in local life”. Which matches the brand well.

We do a little bit of everything and we appeal to as many people as possible. We have the regulars, the young people from high school, the workers who pass by in the morning and evening, without forgetting the tourists.

At lunchtime, the brasserie seats around 15 people. As for the grocery part, “it’s more difficult. We are really in troubleshooting” notes Valérie who also appreciates the part PMU“this allows you to talk with the players. I also offer my predictions, and sometimes, it works.”

Recently, a client won more than 5,000 euros on her advice!

The identity of their region

It is therefore a true priesthood that the guide salutes through this selection. “This very first guide from Éditions Fooding offers an offbeat and characterful vision of the France of PMU establishments. 10 categories highlight the particularities of these bars which make up the identity of their region” explains the publishing house.

After several months of investigation, the teams of Fooding have selected 100 PMU points throughout France. Among them, seven are in Normandy, including “Au Village” located in the heart of the Pays de Bray, and on a strategic axis between Neufchâtel and Dieppe.

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