Reunion between office colleagues at L’Ecureuil, on the island of Nantes. – F.Brenon / 20Minutes
- This Wednesday is (finally) the reopening of the terraces and the opportunity to eat and drink outside.
- One category of customers seems even more impatient than others to make the most of this day: office colleagues.
They had “checked the date” since the announcement of deconfinement. And their Whatsapp group has “heated up again to schedule the meeting” and to book. Seated at Place du Bouffay, in the city center of Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), Steven and his five colleagues “especially not want to miss” the reopening of the restaurants on Wednesday noon. A little to support the traders “who have died well anyway”. Much for “finally sharing a lunch worthy of the name and a drink with colleagues”. “Usually we eat together every lunchtime,” says the group of lawyers. But, with teleworking, we had hardly seen each other since the fall. We resumed face-to-face in April but lunch was often a sandwich quickly swallowed in the break room or in front of his screen. So, this time, we take advantage! “
300 meters away, in the Champ de Mars district, it was at midday sharp that Adeline and her colleagues also shared their “first meal at the table for a very long time”. Adeline had called back three times to add more people to her reservation and it was finally a group of 11 people who disembarked. These bank employees, who had lunched in recent months at “one per table in the canteen”, say “relive”. “We needed to find conviviality,” estimates Juliette, a 23-year-old intern. Here we change the air, it really cuts off work. It does a lot of good! “
Another emblematic Nantes square that comes back to life this Wednesday: the Place du Bouffay! Storming with the sun. #Nantes #Reopening pic.twitter.com/wCmIfje2fY
– 20 Minutes Nantes (@ 20minutesnantes) May 19, 2021
A little further, rue Fouré, four fifty-year-olds have just ordered a bottle of red. It must be said that in addition to celebrating deconfinement, one of them has just joined the management firm in which they work. “We never imagined welcoming a new colleague with a sandwich! », Says Samuel-Alexandre, 47 years old. Suddenly, it will be veal breast with braised cabbage for some, pizzas for others. “I ate a lot during confinement, admits Samuel-Alexandre. But in a box or on a plate, it’s totally different! “
“We’re doing it again tonight at happy hour”
Seated on the Napoleone’s terrace, under a large parasol, Caroline, Elise, David and Bruno finish their gravelax salmon before moving on to a chicken supreme. They too arrived early to start with beers or a small glass of rosé, depending on preference. “We don’t do that every day, but this afternoon is aperitif, starter, main course and dessert, smile these four colleagues, who work in regional planning. Toast in real glasses, to see such beautiful plates, it’s really great. We had been passing the closed restaurant for several months, which made us quite sad. “
On the Ile de Nantes, office colleagues were also particularly numerous on the various terraces. Valentine and Léo, employees of a design office, came to the Point Bar at seven, which was like their “canteen” before the restaurants closed. “It’s nice, the weather is nice, everyone is happy. We were a little fed up with the sandwich or Uber Eats, ”she smiles. Yohan, an employee in the real estate sector, does not say anything else. “It was obvious to be here this afternoon with colleagues. We are resuming our habits in fact. We feel that there are fewer prohibitions. In the next street, collaborators in costume loudly enjoy the reunion. “If it turns out it’s not going to last,” says one of them, hilarious. So we keep the economy going. And we’re doing it again for happy hour tonight! “