the town hall opposes the opening of a “dark store” to protect local shops
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In Lyon, the establishment of “dark stores”, stores without customers intended for delivery, displeases the municipality. She has just opposed the opening of an establishment, in order to protect local businesses.
Without storefront or sign, the “dark stores” are discreetly establishing themselves in the heart of cities. Only bicycle delivery men are allowed to enter. In these new kind of mini-markets, no customers, but order pickers. Customers order their courses on an app, and must be delivered within 15 minutes. “Everything is well referenced, each product has an address “, says Damien Gotteland, team leader at Cajoo in Lyon (Rhône). The company’s activity has doubled since its establishment in Lyon nine months ago, and will soon open a new warehouse. “There is a real interest in continuing our expansion in this city, in order to still seek out neighborhoods that today we do not serve.», Explains Pierre Henri, head of Cajoo in Lyon.
These new players in commerce are not always welcome. On a pedestrian square, available premises were coveted by a company wishing to set up a dark store. The town hall blocked the project. Life was based on the local urban plan, which does not allow the installation of warehouses in this precise location, the only parade that the community found to oppose the project. “These are nuisances in the public space, with aisles and delivery places that raise safety problems, especially for pedestrians, and finally it poses a threat to local shops.», Justifies Camille Augey, deputy mayor of Lyon (EELV) in charge of employment and the sustainable economy.