In Rennes, bars and restaurants reopen, customers favor the terrace

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• In Rennes, bars and restaurants reopened on Tuesday and customers were there.
• If the city has proposed to enlarge some terraces, some fear that this would create inequalities between establishments.
• In the old center, some bistros are narrow and do not always have a terrace.

Place Saint-Michel was waiting for that. This Tuesday morning, the staff of the bistros located between rue de la Soif and place des Lices resumed their usual ballet. At dawn, they took out their chairs and tables and installed their terrace under an almost summer sun. In Rennes, as elsewhere in France, bars and restaurants were able to reopen on Tuesday after two and a half months of closure due to the coronavirus epidemic. Customers seemed to be there, but often preferred the terrace because of the bright weather. Some establishments with no exterior fear a big drop in activity.

“There was a little impatience for us, but for the customers too. Everyone tells us. " Philippe is the boss of Scoop, a bar located at the top of the Place des Lices. Since he reopened his establishment this Tuesday at 8 a.m., the tables on his terrace have regularly welcomed people from Rennes, impatient to have a drink in one of the many zincs in the Breton capital. The boss did not doubt that his customers would return soon. "We will especially miss the tourists," explains Philippe, his mouth and nose hidden behind a black mask.

A few steps away, Maxence, room manager of the Crêperie Rennaise finishes installing the terrace. He will only open this Wednesday so that the kitchen can be set up and quietly prepare his pancake and pancake pasta. “My boss told us that we won't have many people. I think we are going to work well, ”explains the young man.

Spanish tourists? "We don't know when we will see them again"

Located on Place Rallier-du-Baty, the restaurant knows that it will find its loyal customers very quickly. But he does not know how he will deal with the prolonged closure of the convention center located in the nearby Jacobins convent. “When there are events, the terrace is filled in a few minutes. We also welcome many tourists, especially Spaniards. We don't know when we will see them again. ”

In the rue Saint-Michel, the famous rue de la Soif, René finished putting away his merchandise. The boss of Mister Zinc will take advantage of sunny days to enlarge his terrace and gain a few seats. “It is a very student street so we will probably take a little more time to return to normal life. But I don't worry, it will come back ”.

In Rennes, customers quickly found their way back to the café terraces during the second phase of deconfinement. - C. Allain / 20 Minutes

Like many bistros in the old center, the interior of its bar is a bit cramped. But he did not lose many tables due to the social distancing imposed by the government. To help traders, the city of Rennes has also authorized the extension of outdoor terraces, sometimes by prohibiting the movement of vehicles on weekends. Good news for those who can expand but a real concern for the bars of the narrow streets. “What the town hall offers is very good, as long as it remains fair. We should not see 1,000 places created on the mall and zero in the rue Saint-Melaine, "says Max, the owner of P'tit Vélo.

"If you are afraid, stay at home"

Its establishment, an institution of Rennes nightlife, is fortunate to have a beautiful terrace on the Place Saint-Michel. But in the evening, this night bar will have to limit its gauge inside. “Our usual configuration is to see people standing, tight. We had to review everything ”. In the bar, 60 seats will be maintained. Customers wishing to return will have to wait outside while waiting for a table to become available. "This is something that we will have to manage, give people a bit of flic". If the boss ensures "do everything" to respect health measures, he is also adamant about the attitude of his customers. At the entrance to his bar, a panel displays the color. "If you are afraid, stay at home".

☕️ 1st cafe at the bistro! Like feeling like you are living in a historic moment 🤗 # baslesmasques #Rennes pic.twitter.com/nELYzZROcT

The feeling is shared by Arnaud, the boss of Tio Paquito. “I prefer to close two more months but resume at 100%. In the evening, I don't know if we will remain open when we return to the terrace. We're not going to work if we only have a few customers inside. ” The boss is mainly worried about the weather. He who has a beautiful terrace will take full advantage of the days of good weather. "But we are told that it will rain on Wednesday. Will I open on these days? It will be case by case ”.

"A little as if nothing had happened"

Sitting on the terrace, a group of medical students are enjoying their first round of sodas and coffees. “We came there to meet after our internship. It feels good. It's almost as if nothing had happened, ”explains Léo. Sitting opposite, Loïse also takes advantage of the moment. "There aren't too many people yet, it's nice. I don't know if I would have come if it was crowded ”. Famous for its nightlife, Rennes is gradually regaining its habits. But it will undoubtedly take a little time before letting go.

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