The day after the national movement that took place this Saturday, October 17, 2026, many shopkeepers are taking stock. Broken windows, looted stores and for some, completely destroyed shops… Facing 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 response unit to help them.
The toll after the October 17 protests
« No anger, no claim, however legitimate it may be, can justify attacking those who work, who take initiative willingly and who keep our city alive every day ». This Sunday, Emmanuel Grégoire condemns the violence. As the French took to the streets on October 17, notably to protest against the rising cost of living,
/strong> looting and damage affected 1,500 retail shops in France, according to Franceinfo.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Paris's mayor expresses his "deep solidarity" with shop owners 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 cleaning staff were mobilized this Sunday in several neighborhoods of the capital, the City of Paris reminds us, and cleaning operations continue today.
An emergency task force to support affected shop owners
"You bring Paris to life every day. Today...
is in Paris to be by your side. » To help merchants affected as quickly as possible, Emmanuel Grégoire has created an emergency task force whose mission is to identify damage sustained, support professionals through their procedures, and streamline all complex administrative processes related to insurance. The initiative was set up alongside the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Crafts and Trades, with special attention to independent businesses whose activities remain completely interrupted » explains Le Parisien.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
At the same time, Parisian solidarity is shining through with the creation of community fundraisers, helping these independent shop owners who've lost their stores and livelihoods. This is particularly the case for Rashadul, whose shop is located on Boulevard Magenta, near Place de la République. Speaking to Franceinfo, the shopkeeper explains that neighbors and regulars came to support him and opened a fundraiser to help get him back on his feet.
At Bonbon, we've actually launched a solidarity fundraiser to help neighborhood shop owners get their shutters back up. Your donation helps cover what insurance doesn't!