A few days before the long-awaited reopening of the terraces, restaurateurs go to their wholesaler to replenish their stocks and be ready for the arrival of customers.

"We can feel the effervescence rising," confirms the manager of a store in Toulouse. 

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For restaurateurs, the time has come for the final preparations.

On May 19, bars and restaurants will be able to reopen their terraces and finally welcome the public again.

But until then, we have to redo stocks, equip ourselves, renew broken down equipment, etc.

Wholesalers reserved for professionals have therefore been witnessing for a few days a return of these customers that they had not seen for almost seven months, as in this store in Toulouse.

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"Charlottes, a blowtorch, sweets for the children" ... Pascal's shopping list is long.

His restaurant will be able to accommodate about fifty customers from Wednesday and everything must be ready.

Gilles, who will only have 16 covers, comes to renew his equipment.

"There, I take two or three things to brighten up the return of customers a little. Trays to make charcuterie, since we won't be able to make pizzas on weekends ... We fall back on charcuterie , tapas, stuff like that. "

"We are very happy to resume"

For her part, Angélique took glasses and dry products that will last until the 19th. "There are a lot of people, we all run," says the one who comes to three establishments in Toulouse and Castres.

"We are also a little stressed because we are afraid of not thinking of everything. But we are very happy to resume ... It feels good."

Highly sought after patio equipment

Marc Bebic, the manager of the Metro store in Toulouse Sesquières, notes that his restaurant customers are returning in droves.

"We can feel a buzz, especially for the equipment and the terrace, with umbrellas, chairs, tables," he says.

"This is an opportunity for our customers to either change their terraces, or to make one. We also feel at the level of the orders that are being taken for the fresh and extra-fresh products that this is. is gaining momentum, I think for the beginning of next week, "he concludes. 

But there is still an uncertainty for the terraces: the weather is expected to be very unstable next week.