It's a terribly brutal wake-up call for the regulars at the quay, the leisurely strollers, and fans of spritz in the sun. The Saint-Antoine refreshment stand, a friendly institution in the 2nd arrondissement, was consumed by flames on Sunday, May 5th, early in the morning, shortly after 5 AM. The fire, which reportedly started from a simple trash bin, spread to the entire structure in mere moments, sparing neither the stand nor its awning. The images from the scene are stark: only a charred skeleton remains where, just yesterday, the atmosphere was that of a summer guinguette by the Saône.
The accidental cause is the main theory for now
The emotion is even more intense since the place had just kicked off its season. The first drinks served, the umbrellas unfurled, laughter on the terrace... All of it evaporated in a dark and fiery night. And of course, in the face of such a disaster, the question of whether there was a criminal origin arises immediately. An investigation has been opened,
video surveillance has spoken: according to the first images reviewed, no suspicious behavior was observed. Just the garbage collectors, placing the bins in their spot, just like every night. The accident theory, though less sensational, seems to be winning out for now.Ce matin je suis allé soutenir les gérants de la buvette du marché St Antoine à Lyon 2e dont l’établissement a été incendié la nuit dernière et qui ont perdu leur outil de travail en début de saison . Une enquête est ouverte pour identifier les auteurs . #lyon #commerce #soutien pic.twitter.com/iA013AtsZj
— Jean-Stéphane Chaillet (@JsChaillet) May 11, 2025
Present at the scene from the early hours, Jean-Stéphane Chaillet, the deputy for security of the 2nd district, came to show his support for the staff, who were in shock. Because beyond the fire, it’s a piece of neighborhood life that has gone up in smoke. Just as the beautiful days were finally settling in, this tragedy reminds us how fragile our little urban joys can be. But knowing the spirit of Lyon’s outdoor cafés, there’s no doubt that the one at Saint-Antoine will rise again, sooner or later, from the ashes.
