Brasserie, pizzas, bikes and local products… A new third place on the left bank of Rouen
Through Mathieu Normand
Published on
UN new third place is taking shape at Rouen (Seine-Maritime) on the Left Bank. It was built around the move from the Brick microbrewery founded at the end of 2019 by Franck Lequien. He was joined in his new premises, located avenue des Martyrs-de-la-Resistance, by the mobile pizzeria La Bicicletta, the bike workshop Gable on Rouen and the short-circuit food sales association The radish.
They all came together around a locally oriented project built “over the course of encounters”, as Franck Lequien sums it up. Still in the works, they will inaugurate their space around the beginning of the year 2022. Only the sale of pizzas and the distribution of local products of the association have already started.
The 231, in reference to the “mythical locomotive”
The spaces already started to take shape in this former industrial premises. Only the ground floor is occupied for the moment. “There are 120 m² of premises upstairs, with the possibility of hosting other activities,” says Franck. On the other hand, we cannot accommodate the public because of the small staircase. “
Large tables are located at the entrance to allow visitors to sit down. “In the long term, we would like to create an associative bar”, indicates Franck. The walls are adorned with photographs by Julien Rousseau and Yann Cielat, whose Dyade exhibition is on display until December 12.
Bicycles are hung in front of Fred’s workshop, cut off from the rest of the place by partitions and a wide sliding door. “We started from a bare space and we tried to do something that we liked by using a maximum of recycling,” he underlines. In addition to repairs, he would like to sell used bicycles. Its brand is already in place, like that of the Brasserie de Franck.
The brewer has set up his tanks at the back of the main room. “I have just resumed production,” he says. He is re-stocking for opening early next year. The local clientele he created for himself last year in haste, reading the comments on his social networks. “I only do direct sales. The goal of the game is for people to come to buy or consume here in the neighborhood. As in England, each village has its own brewer. “
He named his beer the 231 in reference to the Pacific Vapeur, “the legendary loco”, a tribute to Sotteville-lès-Rouen. He declines it in a series of English-inspired recipes, light with fairly low alcohol levels. “I offer a pale ale, a pale ale lemon, an irish red ale (red), a porter (black), a scottish ale (amber), he explains. I would like to develop a white and an IPA to have a wider range. “
A Christmas market with creators
The culinary preparation laboratory of Paul, manager of the Bicicletta, will be installed between the workshop and the brewery. In the meantime, he is already active in the stove in the center of the room, when he is not in the markets. This Wednesday evening, he is preparing the orders. This is one of the two weekly opening days for the moment, dedicated to the distribution of Radis baskets, with Friday dedicated to the exhibition.
Some people picking up their order from the association take a pizza on the way. Regulars also come especially for its flame-cooked Neapolitan pizzas. “This is the strength of pooling,” he assures us. people come for another chosen one and find out the activity next door. That, and the fact that we can all help each other. “
Crates of fresh produce delivered by a market gardener are stored in the aisle. Le Radis prepares a concentration of baskets each week with vegetables, but also eggs, bread from Osmont, apple-based products, coffees, organic chickens, rillettes, local cheese, organic flour… “We have the ambition to create a small shop and open more during the week”, announces Franck, also a member of the association.
Once on track, the project promises to bring great competition to the neighborhood. Until then, it is possible to meet the fine team at a Christmas market on December 15 and 22, “with small local designers”.
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