That most British of chain stores is reported to be about to take over a prime site on the Champs Elysées, a decade after it closed its emporium opposite Galeries Lafayette, the grand department store on the Boulevard Haussmann. The news, not yet confirmed by the group, emerged from staff at Esprit, the fashion brand, which is leaving the site. They have been told that they can switch to employment with Marks & Sparks, according to today's Le Parisien, which opened its Paris section with the news.
The group never made a profit from its 18 stores in France, which first opened in 1976, but they were a success with a certain type of Parisian. The fashion was drab and the shop was mundane, but some of the products conveyed that flavour of Britishness that Parisians find chic. This included the woolens, sensible tweed and Barbour-style outdoor jackets and especially the food. The marmalade, English cheese, salt-and-vinegar crisps (chip for Americans), chutney and mustard were popular. The English-style sandwiches were a huge success, effectively introducing Paris to such delicacies as egg and cress or Tandoori chicken wedges Since those days, the triangular sandwich has become a Paris lunch-bar staple.
Back in 2001, fans of the Haussmann store lamented the closure. They filled condolence books with appeals such as "Brits, please, do not leave us" and "where can I buy my Cheddar now?". A few British food stores opened in Paris to fill the vacuum and Galeries Lafayette expanded a British section on its gourmet food floor, offering exotic and over-priced staples such as baked beans and Coleman's mustard as well as loads of Indian sauces and spices. No date has been set for the re-opening. Le Parisien puts that down to "la discrétion toute britannique" of Marc Bolland, the new boss of M & S. The paper says "le come-back" is set for September.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment