aixcentric

‘Catastrophe’ is the word used by the traders’ association president to describe the ‘Les Docks’ office, shopping and dining development opposite Les Terrasses du Port.  Housed in beautifully renovated warehouses, the ground-floor thoroughfare was designed to take 80 shops and restaurants.  It opened in October 2015 and my view when I visited was basically that there were several new developments happening across Marseille, especially around the docks, and there’s a limit to what would be commercially viable.  And that was before Covid!  Click here for background: https://aixcentric.com/2016/10/11/marseille-latest-docksshopping-news/

Now there are just 25 units in business: this includes 2 cafes at the Place Joliette end, and just 2 shops in the ‘Le Marché’ food corner designed for 8. Some big names have found it unprofitable and left, disappointed by low customer numbers and hit by charges described as ‘astronomique’.  Negotiations with new enterprises have been stalled by Covid-related uncertainty…

…but there is hope ahead!

Pernod Ricard who have combined to be world number 2 in wine and drinks will move their HQ to Les Docks in the spring.  This

Inside Les Docks – a stylish space for offices, shops and restos.

means 400 people moving into 6 floors + a courtyard.  The company didn’t want to move to a faceless modern block and are embracing the history of this warehouse where their employees used to haul jute sacks of imported star anise to make into drinks.  Part of their area will be open to the public for the first time…we are promised a ‘concept innovant’…and hopefully this is just the kind of initiative that will bring more life to this precious part of Marseille’s industrial heritage.