“We're keeping our fingers crossed!” For Christmas, Alès traders are relaunching the bet of opening on Sundays

Le souvenir des JO devrait trouver sa place au pied du sapin. Midi Libre – Paul Barraud

À quelques semaines des fêtes de fin d’année qui approchent, plusieurs commerces du cœur de ville relancent le pari des ouvertures dominicales, avec des fréquentations inégales selon les domaines.

Without using meters, it is clear that the city center of Alès is more crowded this weekend of December 7 and 8, compared to previous ones. The Christmas-related events, between parades and chalets, are certainly one of the reasons.

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Although, this Sunday, December 8, the streets are a little quieter compared to Saturday, “we worked well”, rejoices Valérie Desbrosses, manager of the Sauramps bookstore, Place Saint-Jean, who still continues to give advice to customers.

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The bookstore, like several other stores, is exceptionally open on Sundays until Christmas Eve. An investment synonymous with a gamble, in a still complicated economic context: “We're keeping our fingers crossed, we want to believe in these Christmas celebrations. This Sunday, it's a little quieter. But as far as we're concerned, our first week of December was good.” A rejoicing, here, caused by customers who came to choose books as gifts under the tree, “the literary prizes are selling very well. The youth section too”The news is also resonating in the aisles, with good sales of the official book of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as well as everything related to Notre-Dame de Paris. To the point that the official book on reconstruction is out of stock.

“It comes from a small publisher,” specifies Valérie Desbrosses. The new copies are expected by the end of December, we would have liked to receive them before…”

Elsewhere, waiting

As for the other sectors, clothing and food, “people come, look, test”, points out a saleswoman on rue d'Avéjan. On the side of the temporary halls, there is not yet a rush on either side of the stalls. “There is the context, people are saving for the end of the month”, estimates the greengrocer Karim Mezghenna. “All the stallholders will be there next weekend,” he continues, specifying that he has already received orders for 13 Christmas desserts for Christmas Eve.

“We are already taking orders, but overall, most people are organizing at the last minute,” adds Patrick Zabala, from the Abbaye cheese shop on Rue de la République, which has also been open on Sundays since December 1st. People are anticipating foie gras and caviar a bit.”

As for the number of visitors, the cheesemaker sees a lot of people passing by, “but it's not crazy, we'll see by the 24th”. At the same time, a customer comes to order a whole platter for a family raclette on December 25th.