London (AFP)

With merchants "happy" but customers who are still desired, the very touristy Camden market in London reopened its doors on Monday after two and a half months of hibernation due to the pandemic of new coronavirus.

"We are so happy and excited to reopen!" enthuses Alon Sharmir, owner of a pita restaurant. For the next two weeks, the forties has "no expectations" in terms of customers: "We will be happy with what comes".

Fortunately, because at its opening Monday morning, the famous Camden Market was practically deserted, its alleys usually crowded with tourists surveyed only by traders and cleaning staff having much to do with this new stage of deconfinement.

"It looks like the market is waking up," said John Jellesmark, a local resident.

This nerve center of London tourism, teeming with street food stalls, clothing stores and various small stalls, has completely closed its doors since Prime Minister Boris Johnson placed the country under confinement on March 23. Signs of this sudden stop, dozens of outdoor heaters, incongruous with this heat, still populate its alleys, now joined by distributors of hydroalcoholic gel.

Since then, the Covid-19 pandemic has killed more than 39,000 people in the United Kingdom, the heaviest toll in Europe. In view of the decline in recent weeks, the outdoor markets were able to reopen on Monday in England. In Camden, only about twenty shops have really resumed their activities, some completing their cleaning or others awaiting the resumption of indoor stores on June 15.

This is the case of Mario Warner, who repaints his storefront and trains his employees in safety procedures while waiting for his clothing store to reopen. "We are impatient to return to a certain normalcy," he explains, jovial. "At least we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel!"

- Return of regulars -

At noon, the first curious people cross the doors of the market for the lunch break, attracted by the scent of Thai restaurants, falafels, barbecue and other cuisines of the world.

Fruit juice in hand, Magdalena discovered the reopening by surprise during a walk. "It is really encouraging to see that things are gradually starting up again," explains the 30-something neighborhood. "I am delighted about it!"

Close to a market entrance, the "Basta falafels" stand is one of the most attractive to onlookers. "We ran all morning!" Explains manager Stephan. "We see a lot of familiar faces, regulars who came to support us for the reopening of the market," enthuses the 24-year-old young man behind his mask.

A stone's throw from his Indonesian curry restaurant, John Knowles observes, a little more worried, the first customers. "I think we are opening too quickly, the population is not ready."

This sixty-year-old has nevertheless reopened to thank the managers of the market, who have shown themselves "united" by suspending the rents during confinement. But also out of financial necessity, having "gone from around 10,000 pounds per week to zero income".

He still appreciates the temporary face of the market, without tourists and "redirected to Londoners".

"There may be fewer people," confirms Stephan from the falafel stand. But in this market which houses a statue in tribute to the singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011 at the age of 27 in her home in the neighborhood. "But the atmosphere remained the same, festive, with lots of music," he adds, pointing to the first street musician to return to the market, "you will see brilliant and creative minds again!"

© 2020 AFP