The mayor of Marseille has announced to buy the walls of this McDonald’s in the heart of the northern districts – Mathilde Ceilles / 20 Minutes
- The mayor of Marseille announced this Wednesday in the morning that he was going to buy McDonald’s in Saint-Barthélémy, in the northern districts.
- Residents want to transform it into a solidarity restaurant, and had launched a call for donations to become the owner of these places.
- Until now, the restaurant was squatted and had become a place of solidarity with the poorest in the neighborhood.
In front of this former McDonald’s in the northern districts of Marseille that they are looking to buy back and turn it into a social fast-food restaurant, on Wednesday morning, the After M volunteers explode with joy. They also sing a victory tune, to the famous melody that OM supporters love in the bends of the Vélodrome. “We are the After M! And we have the keys! Alleeeez the After M! “
The socialist mayor of Marseille has just made a somewhat special announcement to them about this place requisitioned by residents since the start of the health crisis to help the most disadvantaged. “The city of Marseille is assuming its responsibilities,” says Benoît Payan. The day before yesterday I had the president of McDonald’s France to tell him about the city’s decision to buy McDonald’s. I told him that on July 9 at city council, I will present a report to city councilors indicating that the city will acquire McDonald’s. “
An acquisition up to 650,000 euros
A transaction that would take place, according to the mayor of Marseille, “in the coming months”. “We still have to determine the price, but we are around 600,000 or 650,000 euros,” says Benoît Payan. The mayor, who had complained a few months ago to have inherited a municipality with accounts “in the red”, assumes these expenses. “Finances were in the red due to political choices made by the previous majority that weren’t right for the people. There, we put 600,000 euros for the people of the neighborhood. It is not misused money. ”An initiative that even opponents of Benoît Payan welcome. “Finally a real action in eleven months for the Marseilles Spring”, blows the leader of LR to the municipal council Catherine Pila.
Initially, after asking the town hall, the project leaders launched a call for citizens’ funds last month to buy the walls. “We had collected 100,000 euros, or 10% of the amount we were looking for,” says Fathi Bouaroua, treasurer of the association L’Après M. We are going to use these donations for work in the restaurant, the purchase of furniture, equipment and have a start-up endowment. “
An emphyteutic lease
McDonald’s not wanting to sell directly to the project leaders, made up of former fast-food strikers, the After M volunteers were counting on the town hall to buy back the premises, and then resell them. But things could change slightly. “The idea is to remain the owner of the place for the moment, in order to secure things,” says Benoît Payan. And to assure: “I do not wish to intervene in the management of this place. “
“We should be happy with this announcement, but this scenario is not the one we would have liked,” admits Fathi Bouaroua. We do not want to depend on a community so as not to be subjected to political pressure. I remain cautious and we will do everything to put in place an emphyteutic lease. “
When contacted, McDonald’s France “confirms that it has entered into discussions for the sale of the Saint-Barthélémy site to the town hall of Marseille, which would become the sole owner. “However,” as long as McDonald’s France remains the owner of the site, the brand does everything to ensure the safety of people and property. Thus, the brand has initiated several procedures with the competent authorities to put an end to the current illegal occupation as soon as possible. “