LE MARAIS TAKES A STAND AGAINST MONOCULTURE

30 SEPTEMBER 2015 / MONEY AS A LIFESTYLE: BHV CELEBRATES DECADENCE IN "THE DEAD STREET".

The evening of Wednesday 30 September was the first anniversary of the opening of the luxury boutiques Valentino, Gucci, Moncler and other high end brands, set up by BHV at the end of the rue des Archives…

A prestigious “party” for VIP clients and media had been organised. In the end, only a few attended, witnesses to misplaced arrogance and black-carpet mockery by these be-ribboned consumers, taking up ¾ of the pavement and preventing people passing by, even wheelchair users. Shop owners who are used to paying frequent fines for slightly over-stepping the property limits will understand only too well the problem here!

The BHV Marais, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Galeries Lafayette Group holds the residents of the Marais in disregard, appropriating the name of the area yet destroying the soul and diversity of the quarter’s communities, retailers, its charming meeting points, bookshops and unique local shops, and scorning local media and the establishments in the Jewish and Gay quarters, bribing cultural organisations to display their promotional material in all the museums and tourist attractions in the Marais. BHV is not a friend of le Marais - BHV is killing le Marais.

I have spoken out against this encroachment for over two years now. And today, after the first screening of the film “Le Marais; a Treasure in Paris” on France 5 television, of which I presented the last 3 sections, I received hundreds of messages of congratulations and gratitude from residents of the quarter and from international media; all lovers of the pure and authentic Paris, saying Bravo! and that they don’t want to see this side of the city swallowed up. Proof that it IS indeed possible to change the course of history.

Educated citizens and tourists who are aware of this problem have within them a power stronger than that of any vote; the boycott. Boycotting companies that despise them and which destroy their daily wallpaper. THIS IS WHY, AS OF TODAY, I WILL NEVER SPEND ANOTHER EURO AT BHV. AND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME IN THIS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DEMONSTRATION OF SOLIDARITY.        

The Marais is a veritable gold mine for clothes shopping, without having to resort to BHV. And for DIY there is always LEROY MERLIN. So I ask you, residents of the Marais, journalists, media people, you have the means to change things by using your wallet as a powerful weapon of anti-consumerism.

Shop wherever you will! Except at BHV….

Pascal Fonquernie
Rédacteur en chef de PARISMARAIS.COM,

Pascal Fonquernie vit dans le Marais depuis 1987. Il est Directeur de création publicitaire et conseil en stratégies de communication, expert en marketing touristique et marketing local. Fondateur de l'Association des Acteurs Authentiques du Marais. Membre du collectif "Sauvons le Marais" journaliste correspondant de dizaines de médias touristiques dans le monde.