France in Focus

We are always on the lookout for interesting, colourful and/or unusual shops - You must have some too

Maybe not quite what you had it mind it's an old photo and covid has put him out of business, such a shame as it was a lovely florists - but it's cheerful

Not quite shop front but nearly

Not too many colours, but this is how a village looks like when 'les grandes surfaces' have taken over the retail business.

Boutique Orange in Nevers with reflections from the other side of the Rue François Mitterrand.




In Corbigny some familiar names of yesterday, Pioneer and Radiola with years of loyal service:

The first two weeks of August: almost empty roads in Paris and many closed shops. The first one only temporarely, fermeture saisonnière, the second one closed for good.

Missing in economic action. After 135 years the famous bookshop Gibert Jeune had to close its doors. Or perhaps saved by the Ville de Paris: '...Des six librairies parisiennes, devraient cependant survivre deux établissements : la Ville de Paris a racheté le magasin ancré au 27 quai Saint-Michel. Comme l'a déclaré à nos confrères du Monde l'adjointe à la maire chargée des finances, "notre objectif est le maintien d'un commerce culturel, et nous souhaitons garder une librairie Gibert à cet endroit. I always had a look there, not for the original versions of English literature, only French translations available......

The shop front with a tourist leaving this librairie empty handed. Where exactly in Paris? A stone's throw away from the Seine, in Quartier Latin, 5e Arrondissement.