Toulouse: why do traders leave the door open?
A decree published this fall imposes the closure of heated businesses under penalty of a fine. In Toulouse, many traders have turned off the heating to continue opening their doors.
Since October 5, a decree impose the closure of businesses opening onto the outside when the air conditioning or heating is in operation. In the event of non-compliance, an administrative fine of a maximum amount of 750 euros may be applied.
In downtown Toulouse, at the beginning of December, the doors of many shops are wide open. All the traders concerned explain that this encourages passers-by to return. Most are also unaware of the existence of the decree.
“Opening doors to dress customers is something I learned at school,” assures Florence, manager of the Capitouls cutlery. The shopkeeper has no qualms about leaving it open since the radiators are off. “If I had put on the heating, my door would be closed and I would tell people to wear a mask. I’m from Auvergne so the cold doesn’t bother me. It’s better for my bills, the planet, and to counter the Covid! »
A few meters away, Franck, the manager of the Bagelstein restaurant, also turned off the heating while having his door open. “People don’t read the sign I hung on the door. When the door is closed, they imagine that the restaurant is closed. I don’t put on the heating to save money, but anyway, thanks to the kitchen machines, it’s not cold. “Necessary savings: in addition to the increase in the price of energy, since this summer, the prices of many products have increased, he explains.
“My colleague is obliged to cover herself”
At Billabong too, they claim to turn off the heating “so as not to have to pay”. “We turn on the heating when the store opens before turning it off. My colleague who is close to the door is obliged to cover herself well, ”says Brice, a salesman.
In a small clothing store located nearby and whose name we will keep silent, it is impossible to close the doors since there are none. Here, the heating is running at full speed. The sellers say they are unaware of the existence of the decree. “The police often stop in front of the shop but don’t come to see us. »
Other managers whose businesses are just as open are not affected by the regulations because they have hot air curtains. This is the case for the confectionery shop Le Comptoir de Mathilde, or for Passage du Désir, a shop selling erotic accessories.
“We put this curtain in place while waiting for the heating to be repaired but ultimately on a decision to leave it. This allows us to save money”, explains Damien the manager. For more savings, the lights in the shop are also turned off at 9 p.m. instead of 11 p.m. previously.