Last day of the flower market at Place du Commerce in Nantes, Sunday January 3, 2021. -

F. Brenon / 20Minutes

  • The flower market has been located on Place du Commerce in Nantes since 1988.

  • It is definitely closing its doors this Sunday, January 3, 2021.

  • The Commerce-Feydeau public space is being redeveloped.

It had been established on Place du Commerce for 33 years and even for almost a century in the district.

The flower market in downtown Nantes is definitely closing its doors this Sunday evening.

The metal kiosk, which housed only two traders out of the eight available cells, will then be dismantled to allow for the redevelopment of the Place du Commerce.

And he will not make his return at the end of the construction site, Nantes Métropole has already indicated.

Even if it had been announced for three years, this closure arouses a twinge of heart at Laurent Petit, florist on this site for 21 years.

“It's a bit like the soul of Place du Commerce and the district that is disappearing.

The people of Nantes had their habits.

They came to pick up a bouquet after shopping, before going to a restaurant or visiting someone in the hospital.

They were sure to find a florist here anytime, even Sunday.

"

He says he has received "a lot of customer support" in recent days.

“A lot of people are surprised by the closure of the flower market.

But that's how it is, we have to move on, ”philosopher Laurent, who will maintain a presence at the Talensac market and will open a Cours des 50-Otages boutique.

"Flowers are still nicer than cobblestones"

Her neighbor, Isabelle, whose sister manages the flower shop, does not hide her regrets.

“We didn't choose to leave.

It's a good location here, there is traffic, people are attached to the place.

She, too, says her clients don't understand the closure of florists.

"The question that comes back is why?

Why not reinstall a small flower stand after the work?

Why prefer an empty place?

It's nicer to see flowers than cobblestones anyway, right?

»Asks Isabelle.

His sister's activity will now focus on the markets.

"But it will not be the same," laments the shopkeeper.

Residing two streets away, Christelle also “regrets” the disappearance of the flower market, even if she admits having made “very little purchases” there.

"It brought a little life and cheerfulness to the place," she considers.

Ibrahim, he believes that the structure had "aged badly" and "was a little pity" in recent years.

“It wasn't very classy for a big city,” he says.

Work to transform the Commerce-Feydeau public space began in early 2019 and will not be completed until 2022. The objective is to create a vast pedestrian plateau dotted with flower beds and small fountains.

A new pedestrian entrance (elevators and stairs) for the underground car park is to be created on the site of the current flower market.

Nantes

Nantes: Five more years of work on the south forecourt of the SNCF station

Nantes

Nantes: It's decided, there will be no more parking at Place de la Petite-Hollande (not even underground)

  • Works

  • Flowers

  • Town planning

  • Trade

  • Nantes