Is Paris about to turn into one giant open-air Christmas market? After the temporary terraces for restaurants, storekeepers have been granted some help from the Paris city hall as they reopen on November 28: they can set up a Christmas stand for free on one or several parking spaces, or even the sidewalk given the width is enough.
As for restaurants, storekeepers can apply for exploitation to the city hall, committing themselves to respect a charter. This charter – supervising the extension of the famous temporary Christmas cabins – specifically reads that exploiting cabins can only occur during stores’ opening hours, no exemption allowed. Therefore, they cannot shut the store and keep on working at the Christmas cabin past 10 p.m.!
Goal expected? Supporting the financial recovery of these places during the Holidays, but also enabling them to comply with the 8sqm-per-client rule from the new health protocol due to coronavirus. Even though it is well intentioned, this possibility causes division. Some people take a dim view of removing parking spaces it will lead to.
But stands can also be used to help hesitant customers in stores, offering them to collect their order at the Christmas stand, to unclog the store and make the customer flow smoother, as the number of customers will be ineluctably limited.
Interested? Each storekeeper will be granted the right to set up a stand upon simple application on paris.fr. From December 1, 2020 to January 3, 2021, a store can set up a stand on one or several parking spaces, or the sidewalk as long as it does not get in the way of pedestrians, local inhabitants and neighboring stores.
Stands can be enjoyed during the stores' opening hours. Please also note that stores are now allowed to open on Sundays until Christmas.
Careful though, a few rules have to be complied with to make sure no fine is issued. Christmas stands cannot be set up on a parking space devoted to disabled people or spaces for cabs, buses, bikes... Furthermore, no food shall be put on the floor, and it is banned to set up electric devices to warm up or advertise. In case of breaking the charter, offenders may be given a ticket or an administrative fine up to 500 euros.
Dates and Opening Time
From December 1, 2020 to January 3, 2021
Official website
www.paris.fr
