A globetrotter from Quebec reopens the only business in Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine
Along the RD 979, between Bourbon-Lancy and Decize, Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine, a small south-Nivernais town of 154 souls, is happy to welcome Anne-Sophie Roy. After multiple works of more than a year, it reopened, on June 25, 2022, the only “essential” business in the village: a bar, grocery store, bread depot and potentially depositary of Center Journal – she wishes.
If the old red petrol pump is still there, active when three ladies ran the business formerly called “Les six buttocks”, the decor has changed a lot, the result of long days of work by its owner.
nature lover
Outside, a garden area made of benches and wooden huts, branches for the roof, blends with a multitude of perennials, making you want to sit peacefully. This vegetal place and noble materials is in the image of Anne-Sophie Roy, 47 years old, in love with nature.
Inside, the dining room has been transformed into a small grocery store. In the bar, everything has also been reviewed. A new counter has taken place. The brick walls have become apparent. Contemporary paintings by a local artist are added to the walls and in the living room, lovely antique furniture invites you to settle in more intimately.
From Montreal
In a pretty pronounced accent, the native of Montreal introduces herself: “I left Quebec at 18 years old. I have traveled all over the world. I put my bag on my back and went on a hitchhiking adventure in Europe. From Norway, I went down to Morocco, then to Turkey, to Istanbul. »
This desire to travel comes from his father: “From my 2 years and every summer, we moved in a van. We toured Canada and the United States. It all stuck with me. And there, I come from Belgium, from Brussels precisely, where I lived for eight years. »
I want people who come to my house to sit down and talk, play belote… That young people rediscover this meeting point.
Anne Sophie
Anne-Sophie also entered the circus at the Academy of Equestrian Arts Fratellini to be an acrobat on horseback. Within Cavalia, she toured for several years throughout America, Asia and France. In Belgium, she is an expert technician in acrobatics for Cirque du Soleil. Then, for the Dragone company, she left for Macao, China, where she stayed for three years. In Brussels, Anne-Sophie is alternately stage manager, project manager, technical and logistics in events.
“I fell in love”
His room in this village? “It’s quite simple. My friend at the time knew Marijn and Liesbeth, a peasant baker, living not far away. We went there for a weekend. And with them, it really matched, the agreement was perfect, ”reports Anne-Sophie.
There was this bar that lived, then closed. I met the mayor and over time, in April 2021, it happened.
So much so that she came back there at least once by joining them on vacation. She adds: “Until two years ago when I helped at the Bread Festival in August. I stayed a week. Time to visit this beautiful region and the magnificent banks of the Loire. I fell in love. There was this bar that lived, then closed. I met the mayor and over time, in April 2021, it happened. »
Liesbeth Hiele, living in Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine, became a peasant baker
She wants to see “the ladies knit while drinking coffee”. I want people who come to my house to sit down and talk, play belote… That young people rediscover this meeting point. I’m going to do simple things: platters of charcuterie, cheese. As for the grocery store, Anne-Sophie counts the developer by going to meet local producers. A new adventure in motion.
Practice. At Saint-Hilaire, café, bar, grocery store. Contact: 03.58.01.52.51 or by email ([email protected]).