From our special correspondent in Saint-Etienne
“We feel in people’s attitudes that this is the end. » Leaning over the razor shelves, Stéphane, 48, continues his shopping, gradually filling his basket. “You see, the atmosphere is a little leaden. » Usually, he emphasizes, “there is music in the background”. There, not a sound. Barely a few murmurs from buyers, whispering into their phones.
In the aisles of the immense Monthieu Casino in Saint-Etienne, few carts pass each other. The shelves are already empty for some, giving the place the appearance of a ghost shopping center. In six days, on April 30 precisely, the supermarket will close its doors to make way for the Auchan brand. The Casino page will then be permanently closed. “It’s very sad for a company like this. Casino is historic here,” emphasizes Stéphane.
“Nothing left on the shelves”
In the meantime, huge fluorescent yellow posters announcing a “massive clearance sale” with promotions of up to – 70% on “thousands of products” are popping up in the aisles. To liquidate as many products as possible. “Before, I didn’t come because the prices were too expensive. There, I take advantage of it,” slips Sally, aged 25. But like any Stéphanoise, the young girl feels a little pang in her heart too. “Many companies are closing all over France because of the economic situation. But for a company like Casino, which has been at the top, it’s a real shame. »
“I’m a regular customer,” smiles the bubbly Marie-Françoise, 82, proudly as she pushes her shopping cart. “What bothers me is that there is nothing left on the shelves. Lots of things are missing, she notices, looking around her. I didn’t come to do the promos, I just need a couple of things. »
“Finally anyway! I find it absurd that a company like Casino, which was functioning so well, finds itself at this point,” says the octogenarian with a slight local accent. And added, eyes full of mischief: “And to think that there are incapable people at the top who have surely lined their pockets… I feel sorry for all these brave people who have been made redundant. »
“It’s a company that has been poorly managed,” says “Marie Jo” near the frozen food section. “I go there every week,” says his son Olivier, who says he is “disappointed”: “Casino is not nothing here. » “We’ll go to Auchan,” his mother cuts him off. Anyway, I’m going to Auchan. »
“A sledgehammer”
“The employment pool is already tight in Saint-Etienne, that’s not going to help things,” laments Lucie, encountered in the streets of the city center, who introduces herself as a “newcomer.” “We moved in a few months ago with my partner but he’s really struggling to find work,” she reveals. This morning, he had a meeting with his advisor from France Travail and she did not reassure him. »
The closure of Casino was “a subject of discussion at the time of the announcement,” she emphasizes. It felt like a hammer blow. But there, we have the impression that it has fallen again.” A bit as if the inhabitants had moved on to something else. Or simply resigned.
From now on, the weather rather than Casino
On Wednesday, it was the victory of the Greens, won the day before in Grenoble, which made the headlines in the local newspapers hanging around bar counters. As for the discussions of the moment, advantage of the winter weather. While the buses dump dozens of travelers eager to get warm at the foot of the Town Hall, a couple of octogenarians slowly advance.
So the closure of Casino, what do you think? “We apologize but we don’t have time, we have an appointment,” the old man responds gently, leaning on his cane. And to stop: “But we are part of your battle,” he insists with his finger raised.
Same question asked of a dapper sixty-year-old puffing on her cigarette on the terrace of a café. A suspicious look punctuated by an unfriendly “Never go to Casino”. As for whether this is a matter of concern for the city… The person concerned shakes her head at us before burying her nose in her phone. End of topic. The page is well and truly turned…