Toulouse: a big party for the 20th anniversary of the L’Esmeralda nightclub
L’Esmeralda in Sesquières is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Its founder, René Viteur speaks of it best.
Twenty years ago, with Bernard Vernet, you created the Esméralda in Toulouse. Tell us about the beginnings.
Twenty years ago, my partner Bernard Vernet opened the KL, which has since become the Esméralda. Very quickly the place was expanded with several spaces dedicated to different musical styles: the Ball with an 80s and rock program and the Esméralda room around current music. At the time, the leading discotheques in Toulouse were KL, Charleston on the outskirts and Purple in the city centre. By its diversity and its space, L’Esméralda is the emblem of the clientele.
It was then the full boom of this type of leisure…
Efficiency. Times were festive, more carefree with fewer constraints. People liked to have fun and party on Friday nights and Saturdays. Social networks, platforms did not exist and purchasing power did not look gloomy. The discotheque remained a real place of leisure, of meetings where we danced in duets. Many unions have also been woven at the Esméralda.
The place also received many people of the moment…
Absolutely. We can mention Sabrina, the pop group Boney M, Jimmy Somerville, Emile et Images, Patrick Sébastien, the rock group Les Forbans and DJs such as Laurent Wolf or Antoine Clamaran.
How is the activity doing after two years of closure linked to covid?
It is the nightclubs that have suffered the most from this pandemic even if state aid has sometimes stopped the worst. Today, however, we must make up for this delay at a difficult time for the economy and uncertain for people’s minds. We remain optimistic, we are gradually seeing customers come back. It is true that the Esméralda offers a program for everyone: from 26 to 70 years old, according to their musical tastes.