What about the city center of Perpignan and its shops? Often the subject of debates, disagreements and projects, it’s time to take stock and projections for the new year.
Between closures and openings of new businesses, the city center of Perpignan divides as much as it unites. At the start of the year, it is time to take stock of 2024 and look ahead to 2025.”Yes, commerce is moving, it opens, it closes, like everywhere“, introduces Frédéric Guillaumon, deputy mayor in charge of commerce.
2024, between realizations and “ongoing projects”
In November 2024, the elected official announced the arrival of eight new businesses in downtown Perpignan. What about these projects? There rue des Marchands which had several unoccupied cells, is gradually seeing its premises fill up. As planned, the gold buyback boutique, GoldUnion, whose sign is already on the facade, is continuing its installation and should open in spring 2025. L’Atelier de Berlin, which offers ready-to-wear for men, has taken over the premises since the end of November. “We will then meet with someone in the coming days regarding the empty space next to GoldUnion for a future installation“, confides Olivier Navarro, city center manager, without revealing too much. The Rue des Trois Jours welcomed Le Petit Souk, specializing in ready-to-wear for children, as well as Planète foot. The only downside for this sector: the Motel store still displays “for rent” despite the announcement of the installation of a sneaker sales outlet, “an option still in progress“.
Reduce the price of rent
The children’s boutique Du Parame au Same, which closed the curtain in 2020, still has no buyer. “There is a problem that arises in certain buildings in the city center housing businesses on the ground floor. In this specific case, there was renovation work on the apartments and above all the creation of an independent staircase to access them. Which will reduce the price of the rent since the premises will no longer include the building charges” explains Séverine Clivillers, director of the commerce and crafts office. The 3 Oh boutiques which have disappeared little by little since August 2024, are in the process of being rented, at least two of them.
To the rue de l’Argenteriethe jazz bar project and its gourmet restaurant should open within a year and a half, the duration of the work and development. Meanwhile, Liu shop. Joe, place Jean-Jaurès folded up shop in November, with no prospects yet. As for the replacement of the Caroll brand by Events, a group specializing in multi-brands, opening planned for March 2025 in the rue Louis-Blanc.
Seven new premises on rue des Augustins
Dynamism is relaunched on the side of rue des Augustins since the end of 2024, with the arrival of new businesses, always with the same directive, that of bringing together trades around crafts and flea markets in this artery of the city center. After the installation of five new businesses before the end-of-year holidays, “which were also fruitful for them“, underlines Frédéric Guillaumon, seven new premises will be available again from February 3 (compilation of files until March 30), for an opening between mid-April and the end of May.
L’Atelier d’Amaya, Rituals, le Petit boutique de Kiabi… in the 2025 projects
“We easily receive 2 to 3 project leaders per day, independent people who want to open a business“, relates Olivier Navarro. The city center manager notices a trend towards a return to the city center for brands. “We will also receive the national general delegate of Kiabi who is seeking to set up its branch ‘Le petit boutique’, a solidarity store format with collection purposes, in Perpignan. I was also contacted by L’Atelier d’Amaya, a jewelry store, and Rituals, a beauty products brand, to set up shop at the former Victoria, place Gabriel-Péri“.
And if the arrival of national or international brands may cause concern, Anthony Morelli, member of the merchants’ association prefers to take the “issue” backwards: “I am independent and I will definitely benefit from the flow of this type of new brands. Some attract a lot of customers due to their notoriety. Our goal must be to take the positive out of it. Our business is local commerce, unlike large supermarkets. As long as we preserve the quality of the welcome given to customers, we will survive“, insists the manager of a natural and organic beauty products store.
Finally KFC will open very soon on Quai Sadi Carnot, at the foot of Castillet.
