23-12-2013 [• shop shop • exemplary practices • economy ]
The last week before Christmas 2013 we know that we will have the support of the commune but we still don't have a place. By the end of the week we found it. Monday 23rd of December we signed the contract.

The 'good news email' from Friday 20 December:



    Subject:     The Christmas Wonder of SHOP SHOP
    Date:     4 Jan 2014 17:21:41 GMT+01:00


Hey dears!
We have a space: I will tell you its story and if no-one objects, the contract will be signed next Monday, 23 December 2013 at 11h: rue Riboucourt 112

I rightnow come from meeting Abdilsam, our landloard in spe!

He convinced me first, - the famous 5 seconds went very well!! - the space came second!

Location:
Embedded in a busy shop fenced street with loads of people passing by: there are coiffeurs, electro, tele-fax, boulangerie (Seba's boulangerie!!), food-stores etc.

More or less 'at' Metrostation Riboucourt since it is located at the beginning of the street (the part of rue Riboucourt that leads to rue Picard / Tour&Taxis.)

When I visited it around 13:45 sun was falling into the space.

Interiour conditions:
very very OK, electro certificate comes with the contract, toilet, gas, light, water, air ventilating system, heating - even a shower (only missing a shower-head).
Freshly painted, though not our color I  am afraid. :) Up to us to make this up.
It's a troi-piece, quite big window towards a little courtyard (which Abdilsam wants to tidy up very soon, I suggested we plant some good plants ...), so we can open the window for fresh air and soon maybe a OK view ...

For the rest emptied out, still mirrors hanging, reminding us of the previous function = hairdresser.

Lot's of electro plugs. :)

Window to the streets not very special but we can make this up in order to attract the passers-by view.

In this respect the space reminds me on Naszia's place.

The owner himself reminds me on Naszia too !!!

He is a very progressive symphatetic Marrocain, living in the house with his family, one wife (who I quickly met), 5 kids.

He said that Raquel nicely explained the project and that he wants to support us also morally within the neighbourhood. Everybody knows him well :)

Reason why the space is to rent:
He made a point out if it in order to explain prize and situation.
The hairdresser business went very very well (lot's of passers-by) until the hairdresser got an injury recently. Now she has to rest atleast 6 months. She asked him if she could leave and if he would help her by finding himself a new renter. He said they always had a good relation, so he relieved her from searching someone new before going in rehab: and there he is: happy to rent the space to us, who want to pay his suggested prize 850€, before it was 1000 - bon, I dougt it ;) but everybody his/her sense of fiction). 2 months deposit (=1700).
First month he wants to give us discount (50%), sth I will start to believe once I see the contract...

However and very important: I have a very good feeling with him as well as with the location!

So as I said, run if you want to stop this contract from being signed on Monday!
:)

Big Christmas Hugs!

Hope to see you on Monday or later but as soon as possible...

XH
  

... and then we signed the contract.