The atmosphere is definitely not festive at Francisque Regaud Square, right in the heart of Lyon's Presqu'île. A heavy, almost unreal calm. Just a few meters away, the Grand Café des Négociants stands stoic, but at its neighbor, Café Perl, the hour has come to an end according to information from Lyon People. A brutal end, without fanfare or ceremony. After almost three decades of serving strong coffees, glasses of white wine, and snippets of Lyonnaise conversations, the establishment is closing its doors. For good. The culprit? An explosive cocktail of the street closure on Grenette and a real estate showdown.
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15 layoffs announced and a last service on June 26
Joseph and Sébastien, at the helm since 1997, couldn't fight the tide. The property owner—who didn’t seem to care much for the spirit of the place—first tried to triple the rent, and then switched tactics to reclaim the space. The result: 15 employees out of work, a historic bar named Les Étain de Lyon set to be dismantled, and a terrace that is about to fade into the anonymity of urban furniture. Everything must be cleared out by June 30. The last service? Set for the 26th, in an atmosphere that we can already imagine tinged with bitterness.
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Around, merchants aren't hiding their concerns. The recent opening of a KFC on Rue de la République, approved by the local government, is causing quite a stir. Between standardized chains and sky-high rents, the soul of the Presqu'île is slowly fading away. And Café Perl, with its old-fashioned bistro vibes, is the latest casualty. This place was a landmark, a witness to everyday life in Lyon. Soon, all that will be left is emptiness and a few memories clinging to the façade.
Source : Lyon People
Address: 2 Pl. Francisque Régaud, 69002 Lyon, France
