Before closing due to re-containment on Thursday evening, downtown merchants observed above-normal attendance for ... Christmas gifts.

Many customers anticipate a lockdown that would last beyond early December.

REPORTAGE

Food shelves in supermarkets taken by storm, hairdressing salons in extreme demand ... A few hours before the re-containment, some also rushed into the stores to anticipate Christmas gifts.

Two months ahead of time, traders were able to take advantage of the big day crowds before closing the curtain to the general public for at least two weeks.

Europe 1 has seen this unusual effervescence in Paris.

"Give priority to shops in town"

"I came to buy some Christmas presents for my little girl. Usually, it would have happened on November 29, but I don't know where we will be ...", anticipates Hélène, her arms loaded with packages for the whole family. family.

"I buy a lot on the Internet, but now, no. Times are a bit difficult, you have to focus on shops in town."

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But Christmas is also its share of traditions that some customers do not want to miss: "I bought an Advent calendar and a little decoration for Christmas, in case it does not reopen, because we have little hope that it will reopen, "said Delphine.

"But there you go, for those two, three little things, it was today or never."

A day "worthy of a Christmas Eve"

In front of the big brands, Thursday, unusual lines were observed: "It's a day worthy of a Saturday, I would even say Christmas Eve", assures Corinne, shopkeeper whose shop has never been so frequented. October day.

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Corinne made more than 1,000 euros in sales on this last day before the reconfinement.

But this merchant does not stop for all that: from Friday, her customers will be able to order on her site before picking up their purchases at a well-defined schedule.