Since its inception, the hall of the South Station has faced several setbacks. But for the past few months, the project seems to be in dire straits, and no solution appears to have been implemented to resolve the situation. Nice Premium wanted to revisit the complex and eventful history of this site and attempted to envision its future.
Inaugurated 3 years ago, the gourmet hall of South Station had expressed its ambition to become a new hub of life and activities in Nice. However, quite quickly, the project disappointed the people of Nice who found the atmosphere stifling and the prices too high, while providers complained about exorbitant rents.
After several months of closure, the company owning the site, Urban Renaissance, decided to restart the project from scratch by handing management over to “Jardin Défendu”, a subsidiary of the highly successful Enchanté group in Paris event management.
The residents of the Libération neighborhood and enthusiasts of South Station had every reason to expect a revolution that would delight them. This new beginning seemed quite successful, but just a few months later, in November 2021, the situation worsened. The Nice city council issued a statement explaining that it had just learned from Urban Renaissance Development that “Le Jardin Défendu” was in receivership. Christian Estrosi expressed his dissatisfaction with this news and heavily criticized the group’s management: “I cannot accept that this emblematic site of the Libération sector redevelopment project is in jeopardy… I urgently request that Urban Renaissance Development assume its responsibilities, consider the future of this hall, and do everything possible to ensure its revitalization and the continuity of its operation.”
The Enchanté Group responded to the statement by accusing Urban Renaissance of no longer responding to their solicitations even though the two companies seemed to have reached an agreement, and of not providing “the several million euros necessary to turn the south station into a true gourmet and festive hall, but also to support the departure of restaurateurs who do not wish to participate in this renewal.”
The two companies eventually parted ways, and once again, Urban Renaissance announced the implementation of a transitional phase necessary to relaunch and “bring the site the dynamism and success it deserves.” The Mayor of Nice quickly put pressure on this new launch by mentioning “several investors and professionals in the restaurant sector who have already expressed their interest” in taking over the hall.
Months passed, and South Station still did not reveal its long-awaited new look, with less than a dozen restaurants present on the site. In February 2022, the Mayor of Nice anticipated the end of the collaboration with URD (“They don’t have the means… Every passing day is a day when URD moves towards more and more difficulties with its shareholders. The story will end.”) and outlined the profiles of potential new managers “Prestigious, established in France and internationally, and determined to relaunch the venue.”
But while awaiting this new breath brought by a new company’s involvement, South Station continued its descent into chaos with another unforeseen event. The reason was the closure of the gourmet hall for “hygiene reasons” due to the discovery of particularly dangerous bacteria called coliforms. After two weeks of closure, the site reopened its doors, but with a future tied to its still bleak economic situation.
A month later, after total silence since the reopening, new information was expected about the future of the space in the Libération neighborhood. A statement sent to the press announced a press conference by Christian Estrosi on “the future of the South Station Hall.” But a few hours before the conference began, an email from the Mayor announced its postponement to a later date.
Since this postponement, there has been no further news. But the cancellation of this conference can naturally raise questions or concerns. Was it organized to announce an agreement with a potential new manager who ultimately backed out? To announce a definitive closure pending a clear restructuring plan? To present a new role or vocation for the site?
The answer will likely come in the upcoming weeks when this press conference is rescheduled.
