Toulouse. The Kiosk of the Palais de Justice has lowered the curtain
Passers-by and loyal customers have discovered since the beginning of the month a lowered iron curtain. Sophie Arieu, the press kiosk, has installed a shop at the exit of the Palais de Justice metro station, which has closed after two years of activity.
“I will miss my loyal customers, like this 40-year-old gentleman who brought me a pastry, came twice a week for his rugby magazine, this old man who drank his coffee, told me about his life and left every day with the Team…”, says the newsstand, with tears in her eyes. Proximity was at the heart of his daily life. Strengthen social ties in the neighborhood through services: coffee, press sales and parcel pick-up.
Maintaining the stand alone proved to be physically and mentally exhausting for Sophie Arieu. “It can be very cold in winter, without heating. We are constantly standing, carrying magazines to the shelves, packages, and that every day,” she explains. “People lack tolerance. I was verbally abused because the package hadn’t arrived, or I was away while I went to the bathroom!”
Added to this are major financial difficulties, some of which are personal. Independent, her salary depends only on sales. “I had trouble paying myself a minimum wage,” recognizes the kiosk. The premises belong, by agreement with the town hall, to the JCDecaux group, through its Médiakiosk branch.
Agreement in 2016 for 15 years with JC Decaux authorized to occupy public space for private commercial purposes.