Tense economic differences and rivalries are aggravated

Bertrand Blin is one of the places: "Saint-Ouen flea create fashion for decades." The craze for Art Deco was born there, the rediscovery of the seventies, as the current interest for industrial art. "It is thanks to these merchants that Paris regularly launches trends followed in the four corners of the planet," enthuses the marine Antiquities specialist, both client and supplier of chips. Like him, museum curators, gallery owners, fashion designers have their habits; many people also, as Jane Birkin, Sharon Stone, Charles Aznavour, Philippe Starck, Christian Lacroix or, by the past, figures like Brassens, Piaf, Gainsbourg, John Lennon and Yoko Ono. But this nugget tourist, cultural and commercial lost its luster. How to improve it Evidence of the interest aroused by bullets, studies on the subject are multiplying. It is true that there is urgency: the first market of antiques in the world languishes. If hundreds of thousands of curious invested the picturesque streets of the market Vernaison champêtres aisles of the Paul-Bert market to take advantage of learned unpacking put in place by specialists from throughout Europe in the recent world of antiquity, do not rely on appearances: the puciers are not at the party.

First site to have been ranked "the architectural and landscape heritage protection area" owing to the particular atmosphere of its 16 markets, so appreciated by the filmmakers, the garage sale paradise does not delivered the shock of September 11, 2001, deprived him of us manna. Let alone the financial earthquake of 2008, that plunged it deeper into the doldrums. Case-sensitive seems certainly limited on items under 200 euros, as exceptional, now prévendues parts without transit via chips. But the range, marketed by a third party merchants, is sinking.

"The place was magical."

Does this mean that the chips are at risk Jacqueline Rouillon, Mayor of Saint-Ouen, "the question is to take very seriously." "Yes, the crisis is extremely serious," confirms Claude - Annie Marzet, who relinquishes its leased location 1,500 euros per month at market Serpette, losing 95,000 euros invested in its trade Fund, "today unmarketable. On the stand on the other side, Marie Geronimi put the key under the door, after 20 years of faithful presence. "It's hard to go, the place was magical."How much and threw the sponge 5-10 According to some, instead of 25-30 according to the other... In this closed circle, which is the culture of secrecy, cannot have a clear answer.

The noticeable unease in arteries of Paul-Bert and Billhook, the two jewels of the chips, encourages all imputations among antiquarians, already traumatized in 2005 by the stranglehold of the sixth Duke of Westminster on their markets. Since then, they fear "losing their soul" in contact with the lord Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, before any King of real estate. They want to proof the rents increase practised once a booth is free, without taking account of current difficulties. "Grosvenor seeks to leave the puciers to implement a shopping centre.What Marie Geronimi. According to Edith Lory, Director of these two sites, this is merely to reassess established leases of longue date. "Indeed, it is proposed to antique shops in place lend the vacant stalls waiting for rehired professional service;" This avoids coup have surfaces empty, seen as the warts.

Fall of the dollar, disastrous conditions, competition from eBay, shortage of objects always more difficult to find, conservatism of some antique dealers... Everything combines to give the blues to the temple of the Gypsy jazz. A shock is needed. But one who concoct a project likely to agree the various economic actors and relevant policies is probably not yet born.

On the one hand, individualistic, heirs of the rag of the 19th, and passionate, but fiercely loving freedom puciers exiled by prefect trash beyond "of the fortifs". Tenants, owners, their profiles, their statutes vary between markets and products, the world of the fripe is not one of the rare antiquity. Tense economic differences and rivalries are aggravated. Difficult to speak with one voice despite the efforts of Nicholas Moufflet, President of the Association of development and promotion of the chips of Paris Saint-Ouen (ADPPPSO). "Can federate 1,500 merchants;" "then we do with those who want to participate," he acknowledges. On the other, a multitude of political actors involved: four elected in Saint-Ouen, alone even more to the Mairie de Paris, where the topic concerned the 17eet 18th districts, bordering, but also the Deputy tourism and trade of Bertrand Delanoë, not to mention the General Council of Seine-Saint-Denis, nor of the Ile-de-France region.

Points of tension

Relations between merchants, long regarded as symbols of capitalism, and the municipality, Communist, eased. Especially since their leader is no longer the first opponent of Mayor. But other tensions remain. Saint-Ouen regularly accuses Paris the lack of cleanliness of the approaches to the market - located Street between the device and chips depends on capital - and the absence of signalétique since the subway Porte de Clignancourt, then visitors must cross a no man's land by street vendors. With RATP, this is the question of the transport that angry: bus 85 from the municipality of Saint-Ouen to the Luxembourg week runs only on section mairie de Saint-Ouen - Mayor of 18ele Sunday, where the chips are the most popular... Finally, it caught again with the national police, who sends less than a dozen men to ensure security. "The chips are a paradoxical place where rich met poverty." "Many species travel, this is known and attracts thieves," observed Jeanne Castelein, former antique dealer. And as if this were not enough, the fact battle also rages on the name of the site: should we talk about chips, Paris Saint-Ouen or Ouen flea - Paris...

However, the audonienne municipality has committed 10 million euros on the mandate back to beautify and animate the site: requalification of certain streets, realization of a garden, creation of a business incubator, installation of the Ecole des beaux-arts, opened a workshop of luthier and a school of guitar Gypsy, installation of the Marcel Campion to the mythical café-restaurant La Chope forain, become also Concert Hall... A taxi station and a logistics platform are also in the project.

Open seven days a week

With merchants, the arrival at the head of the association, two years ago, Nicholas Moufflet, dynamic representative of the new generation, allows to multiply "shots" to publicise the chips: the Festival de jazz manouche upgrading parts of exception through participation in the Salon Maison & object or the decoration of the Medef Summer Universitythe objective is to diversify the targets, the goods, forms of sale, including seduce a younger audience and more "bobo", conquered by this giant cabinet of curiosities.

But to really "Spike" chips, the ideal would be to open them seven days, and not only from Friday to Monday. To as "a destination", spotted monthly events, able to attract 10 million visitors per year. It is still far away. "Some traders do not speak English, others do not open until 11 p.m.," acknowledges Nicholas Moufflet. "On Saturday evening, all shops and restaurants in the chip are closed, it is the desert! regrets Paul-Planque, first Deputy Mayor in charge of urban planning.". Private initiative has shown its limits. There are flea an aging generation, which was slow to pass the relay. "Elected officials between also: no tourist office on the side of Paris, a local small, barely visible, not opened before 2 p.m. Saturday side Saint... Not to mention the project to the former station d'Ornano a real point of information, repeatedly mentioned, still at a standstill.

The puciers themselves ready to play the game provided that elected officials, perhaps in reflection on the Grand Paris, create a museum on the history of the site to drain visitors throughout the week. This assumes budgétaires means, a communication strategy and exploration international, reinforced related services (guides, expert, restorative art...), parking and transportation better adapted prevention active of delinquency, the resolution of the problems of governance, the integration of the chips in the cultural offer of the capital. The most difficult is to streamline all retaining the hillocks that are also the charm of this junk. "Should not repeat the fatal error at Portobello, warns Bertrand Blin.". The London site has lost his mind because that was intended to make it a place too clean.