This legendary Alès café is moving, before returning to its brand new historic location

Marilyne and Jean-Rémy Rédarès opened their temporary location this Friday, January 3. Midi Libre – Alexis BETHUNE

La Brûlerie, a historic café next to the Halles de l’Abbaye, opened this Friday, January 3 in a temporary location, while the market is being renovated.

Its legendary red-decorated doors have been closed since Tuesday, December 31. But on the window, we can clearly see a note saying that the Brûlerie is to be found 50 meters further down, in the premises of the former Benoît clothing store, at the corner of Place de l’Abbaye and Rue de la République.

A moving change

This move had been planned for a long time. Currently undergoing renovations, the Halles de l’Abbaye are being given a makeover, with the aim of reopening, brand new, by June 2025. The renovation also concerns the Brûlerie premises, which the Rédarès family has been running for 31 years now.

On the last day, Tuesday, “it did something to me”, confides Marilyne Rédarès. “When I started working at this place, 31 years ago,” she says, “I received a group of clients who were, at the time, the same age as I am today. Today, only one of this group is still alive, and she came for the last day on Tuesday. It was moving to find myself that day, with her who had known my first day!”

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

A future adapted café

In the premises of the former clothing store, the café has managed to find a rather suitable arrangement. The first room houses the store section, the second, at the back, the café section with tables and chairs. An arrangement that seems to suit the customers of the day: “You should stay here all the time!”, points out one of them.

However, that is not what is on the agenda. In June, once the market halls open, La Brûlerie will return to its historic location. “It will be a nice location, continues Marilyne Rédarès, but not in the same form.” According to the project, the café, which will return to its former outdoor terrace, will also have a service area in the halls, “open to the market”, inside.

On the financial side, this temporary change should not have too much of an impact on business. However, there is concern about the lack of an outdoor terrace in this temporary location. If customers do not come in as many numbers as before, “we risk having to put part of our team on technical unemployment”.

In any case, “customers only have to walk a few meters to find us”. The future new Brûlerie aux halles is indeed planned, but will not however be adorned with its legendary red.