Toulouse. They open a third place where the ecological and solidarity transition is queen
By Quentin Marais
Published on
The Transition Halls take up residence at 7 rue du Canon d’Arcole. Chloé and Mélanie, 29 and 30, have concocted a third place there, which will see its inauguration on 1uh October 2022. And with a clear objective: to accelerate the ecological and solidarity transition.
Associates turned friends
Chloé is at the initiative of Les Halles de la Transition, an association founded in September 2021. “Basically, its mission is to accelerate the ecological and solidarity transition. Aged 29, she spent more than two decades in Paris, before living a founding experience in Sidney, near TerraCycle, “a big box of recycling and advice. We have developed a place with several activities: coworking, events, and catering. And I found out later that it was a place of third party. » It’s the click.
“I came back to France, after the covid-19 epidemic; having discovered what this third place concept was, and being passionate about different rather hybrid places, with a lot of activities that created the synergy between people. I discovered that there were many third places on ecology, the social and solidarity economy (ESS), etc. that associations, startups, large groups…”
And by way of alignment of the planets, Chloe will meet Melanie, during a call for partners made in December 2021. Holder of a Master’s degree in digital marketing, the second, aged 30, says she is “passionate about the sociological aspect in the ecological transition, everything that involves changing habits, I find it very exciting to take into account people’s feelings, to understand why the transition can be more complicated for some than for others”.
A different background but common goals. Chloé summarizes: “we called each other, and it matched very quickly on our character and our outlook on things.
Develop, work, reflect…
2022 was the year of materialization. A participatory campaign, a project that caught the eye of the Banque Postale, personal contributions: the duo struggled to be able to get their hands on a vast space. 250 m² inside, and 200 m² of garden. A play grocery with local producers, bar in which to have a labeled coffee or a beer straight from Occitanie, a space caterer with the local partner La Belle Verte, a corner music, UN gardens where the furniture comes from recycled pallets, a room workshop, an area coworking…
” It’s a place open to everyone, someone can come and consume in an ethical and sustainable way, but can also come and reserve a table, or privatize the whole place”, comments Chloé. Who continues: “I really realized that these third places were incredible on the aspect to create a synergy between people who would never have met elsewhere, to meet around the same theme, and in the same place”.
Open for all
In this new space, Chloe and Melanie absolutely do not close any doors. “We don’t want to close ourselves to the general public or to businesses, we want to raise awareness on a large scale”, aims the second. “This place will affect people as well as associations, start-ups, large groups, but also Mr. and Mrs. everyonewho may simply want to have a coffee”, continues the first.
“We try to create a small world, a place where, no matter where you come from, your profession, your status, your age, you are welcome. You can exchange with everyone, and we want to break the codes a bit , the classes we can have. Everyone is affected by climate change and ecological transition. And everyone can do it! Even those who drink coffee, a coffee with the Fairtrade and fair trade label is already a very big step.”
This desire is also reflected in the agenda, which is already full. “We also want to reach the children: we are going to do painting-engraving workshops. There will be an impact film for the older ones, or on the circular economy,” predicts Mélanie. “On Wednesdays, we want to put the Toulouse ecosystem forward, at the invitation of local associations, she adds. On Sundays, there will be brunches with a little more sporty sides, like yoga. We really want it to be everybody “.
Chloé underlines for her part, that their project “is supported by Toulouse Métropole because we are ‘incubated’ at the ADDRESS route, an entrepreneur path on the Social and Solidarity Economy”.
A take-off… which calls for others?
1uh October is therefore not only the beginning of the 10e month of 2022. It will also be that of the adventure of Mélanie and Chloé, who will not leave alone: three people at the bar and two alternatives will accompany them.
And the ambition is already there. ” We would like open a location every 18 months. We want to multiply the model, go to rural areas, still in Occitania, ”announces the duo. The great test orchestrated on Wednesday September 21, 2022 and which saw 150 people come to 7 rue du Canon d’Arcole, a given of the first certainties. “Investors loved the project and we already offer site visits“smiles Melanie. Everything seems to be in place for a superb take-off…
The Transition Halls
7, rue du Canon d’Arcole, Toulouse
Opening time :
Tuesday (12 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
Wednesday (12 p.m. – 11 p.m.)
Thursday (12 p.m. – 12 a.m.)
Friday (12 p.m. – 1 a.m.)
Saturday (11 a.m. – 1 a.m.)
Sunday (11 a.m. – variable hours)
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