Kamel and Lule in front of the Après M in Marseille -

C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes

  • Symbol of the social struggle against the fast-food giant, the McDonald's in Saint-Barthélemy has become the Après-M.

  • Since the first confinement, the inhabitants have brought this place to life under the sign of mutual aid.

    While continuing to write the rest of the story, with the project of a popular restaurant.

  • It remains to convince Mc Do to give up the walls and the work tool.

    Discussions with the city of Marseille are said to be ongoing.

"You are at home here!

"With a good humor to give way to all the ramparts, Yazid welcomes with these words anyone who pokes his head at" The after-M ".

For years, he has cultivated two plots in the neighboring SNCF city, in this 14th arrondissement of Marseille, to become self-sufficient in vegetables.

The former McDonald's Saint-Barthélemy, on the large roundabout near the L2, he thought that "it was a struggle for employment".

And then the first confinement arrived, and the situation changed, for him as for all the inhabitants who "requisitioned" the old fast-food to make it a place of mutual aid.

"It's addictive this place, a nursery of ideas and want-to-do", he smiles, before spinning the metaphor: "After M, it became a tree.

We are in the process of developing it, I hope it will bear good fruit.

»With others, he is on the greening team.

“We were given two apple trees, two pear trees, yesterday a lady came to drop off an avocado tree,” he rejoices.

Last weekend, together with neighborhood children, they planted seeds in a mobile mini-greenhouse.

Other gardening workshops are scheduled on Wednesdays, in addition to artistic writing workshops.

Children grow tomatoes and seeds at the Après M - C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes

Vegan burger

"It is not because we are from the northern districts that we cannot reclaim the question of organic, healthy, local and seasonal food", launches Kamel Guemari, historical figure of McDonald's Saint-Barthélemy.

By his side, Lule, who came from Cours Ju, talks about the excitement to restart the machine, reopen the kitchens and prepare recipes for "a burger with falafel steak, with your choice of a pesto sauce or a spicy vegan sauce".

All to be ready on December 19, 2020, the day of the official launch of the “post-M”.

“It was crazy, in three hours, we served 850 menus, only by drive.

Not a Mac Do in France does this!

"

Since then, the brand's new pink and blue colors have been displayed on the outside.

With a banner from OM supporters, who came to give their support.

The kitchens are covered with protective tarpaulins, while waiting for the rest.

The Après M, which only works with donations from individuals and businesses, continues to collect, prepare and distribute 1,000 food parcels every Monday, in addition to mobile marauding and the free store.

At the "people's restaurant"

Behind the scenes, the project of a “people's restaurant” is being structured under the leadership of Fathi Bouaroua, well known for his long-term commitment to Emmaus.

"We want this restaurant to belong to everyone, to be a canteen for people from the neighborhood, for those who are members, where we will come and eat according to our resources and our budget," he explains. he.

After M in the northern districts of Marseille - C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes

"It is a project by the inhabitants, for the inhabitants", continues Fathi Bouaroua, who recalls that McDonald's, "it was 77 jobs, the second largest employer in the district after Carrefour".

At the “people's restaurant”, you can eat, but also work, train, develop short circuits.

In short, to be in direct contact with the territory.

Like the Friche la Belle de Mai, a cultural place that has become emblematic of Marseille, the Après M wants to constitute itself as a cooperative company of collective interest, with a third of former employees of McDonald's, another third of associations of the neighborhood and inhabitants, and a last third of local communities.

The city's socialist mayor, Benoît Payan, has already visited them.

"With McDo, we are in discussion through the city of Marseille", slips Sylvain, a volunteer.

Because the fast-food giant still owns the premises and the work tool.

A real popular third place

Fathi Bouaroua imagines a way out for McDonald's, "which would have everything to gain by donating the site to a foundation of public interest, under economic and social responsibility".

With tax clawback, the operation could be painless, at least from a financial point of view.

It would remain to have the property of the working tool, this vast equipped kitchen.

For this, the Après M wants to create an SCI with the objective of bringing together 100,000 people who would subscribe to a participation of 25 euros, the rest of the shares going to the most disadvantaged.

It would also guarantee the good management of the place, and especially the respect of its values.

"This place must be the emblem of what a popular third place means, with a real social mix", summarizes Fathi Bouaroua.

The “punchlines”, like the volunteers themselves amuse themselves, burst forth: “with a valiant heart, nothing is impossible”, “alone we go faster, but together we go further”, or even “like you are, you come ”.

"After the ordeal, there is the delight", also says Kamel Guemari, who enjoys "building the world after McDonald's".

“We need everyone, everywhere,” he says.

With the same energy that he put into social conflict, before history became that, citizen, of an entire neighborhood.

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