Unrest that followed cost-of-living protests in parts of Paris on October 17 left shops damaged and looted, with retailers facing repair bills and lost trading time. Carrefour Group CEO Alexandre Bompard said the cost of repairing the chain’s damaged stores would exceed $11 million.
Shops in Le Marais damaged and looted
Le Marais, a busy shopping district, was among the areas hit hardest. Clashes between demonstrators and police were followed by fires involving vehicles and rubbish bins. Masked people then broke into shops along the streets.
An employee at a local fashion boutique said tear gas had seeped into the store. Despite a heavy police presence, the shop closed early as tensions rose and brought in additional security staff.
The owner of a gold-buyback shop said a nearby restaurant operator called to warn her that a group of young people was in the area. Video shared with her showed the shop door forced open and the interior damaged. When she returned, merchandise was gone and the street-facing windows had been smashed.
A branch of Nicolas, a well-known French wine retailer, was also targeted. Photographs showed the entrance and both display windows broken, shelves nearly emptied, and empty champagne boxes and glass scattered across the floor. Supermarkets, technology stores, bars and vape shops were also damaged or looted.
Carrefour repair costs top $11 million
Bompard said repairs to Carrefour’s damaged stores would cost well over $11 million. He said the destruction had both financial and social consequences, adding that some franchised stores might have to cut dozens of employees’ working hours.
For retailers, the bill extends beyond stolen stock and broken fixtures. Early closures, repairs and additional security all raise costs and reduce the time stores can trade. In districts that rely on weekend footfall, disruption can also weigh on sales and cash flow.
Some Paris businesses reopen as cleanup begins
The unrest did not affect the whole city. A bartender at an Irish pub in Montmartre said Saturday night was busy but calm, with customers behaving politely. By Sunday morning, however, many residents were waking to smashed shopfronts and ATMs, rubbish-strewn streets and burned-out cars.
Repairs and cleanup were already under way in some areas. A job-placement agency that had been broken into was being repaired, while volunteers cleared debris from the streets. Paris City Hall said it would assist affected businesses and work to establish an emergency task force to help them navigate insurance claims and administrative procedures.
Businesses are still assessing losses, repair costs and time out of operation. Carrefour’s estimate highlights how the damage has extended beyond individual premises to affect franchisees’ staffing decisions and the company’s overall costs.