In open war with the urban community of Grand Narbonne and its president Didier Mouly, Louis Privat, boss of the Grands Buffets, has recorded his departure from the Espace de Liberté but has not yet made his final choice as to the establishment of the largest restaurant in France.
It’s done. Les Grands Buffets are going to leave L’Espace de Liberté where they have had their quarters since 1989. In open war with the urban community of Grand Narbonne, Louis Privat, the boss of the largest restaurant in France – in terms of attendance – held a press conference this Tuesday, August 9.
During this, he returned to the conflict between him and the president of Grand Narbonne, Didier Mouly. “Relations are extremely difficult with Didier Mouly”, underlines Louis Privat who returns to the lack of maintenance of L’Espace de Liberté by the community. And he wonders: “Why do we leave L’Espace de Liberté which is a showcase of Narbonne?”
For the entrepreneur, “the Grands Buffets do not plan to stay” in the Aude sub-prefecture. But, for the moment, no decision as to a future establishment has been made. “I am flabbergasted by the number of proposals after the announcement of our departure”, indicates Louis Privat.
“There was Louis Aliot, the mayor of Perpignan, who let me know that he had land to offer me. Patrick Maugard, the mayor of Castelnaudary positioned himself. There is also Robert Ménard, the mayor of Béziers and the president of the departmental council, Kléber Mesquida. There, it would be for land on the site of the Bayssan estate. There is also Lézignan-Corbières, Montpellier, Sète”, explains Louis Privat.
“I ask all elected officials to make me a written proposal”
All options are therefore on the table. “From now on, I ask all elected officials to make me a written proposal”, specifies the boss of the Grands Buffets. For his next project, Louis Privat says he needs 15 hectares which will see the duplication of the famous restaurant with the addition of a hotel with a hundred rooms.
For now, he is counting on 30 to 35 million euros to carry it out with 300 jobs at stake. “But we are not yet at the financial arrangement of the project”, warns Louis Privat who affirms that a large French financial group is there to support him.
While waiting to finalize his move and his new installation, Louis Privat still speaks of a presence in Narbonne for four years, “the time to amortize the last investments made on the premises of L’Espace de Liberté”.
