The day after the national movement that took place this Saturday, October 17, 2026, many shopkeepers are taking stock. Broken storefronts, looted shops and for some, boutiques completely destroyed… Faced with the situation, the mayor of the city Emmanuel Grégoire signs an open letter to affected shopkeepers in Paris this Sunday, October 18, announcing the establishment of an emergency task force to help them.
The aftermath of the October 17 demonstrations
"No anger, no demand, however legitimate it may be, can justify targeting those who work, who undertake with determination and who keep our city alive every day". This Sunday, Emmanuel Grégoire denounces the violence. While the French took to the streets on October 17, notably to protest against the cost of living,/strong> looting and vandalism affected 1,500 businesses in France, according to Franceinfo.
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Paris's mayor expresses his "deep solidarity" with shopkeepers forced to close their doors urgently, and for some, to place their employees on partial unemployment. In the capital, many businesses have been affected, mainly on the streets around Place de la République and around Strasbourg-Saint-Denis, but also on the Champs-Élysées and rue de Rivoli. Nearly 1,000 sanitation workers were mobilized this Sunday across several neighborhoods in the capital, reminds the City of Paris, and cleanup operations are ongoing today.
An emergency response team to support affected shopkeepers
"You bring Paris to life every day. Today it's
is in Paris to be by your side. » To help merchants affected as quickly as possible, Emmanuel Grégoire created an emergency unit whose mission is to assess the damage suffered, support professionals in their procedures and streamline all the complex administrative processes related to insurance. The system was set up alongside the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Crafts and Trades, with special attention to independent businesses whose activity remains completely interrupted explains Le Parisien.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
At the same time, Parisian solidarity is taking shape through the creation of crowdfunding campaigns to help these independent shopkeepers who have lost their stores and livelihoods. This is particularly the case for Rashadul, whose shop is located on Boulevard Magenta, near Place de la République. When interviewed by Franceinfo, the shopkeeper explained that neighbors and regular customers came to support him and opened a fundraising campaign to help get his business back on its feet.
At Bonbon, we've also launched a solidarity fund to help neighborhood shopkeepers get their shutters back up. Your donation helps cover what insurance doesn't!