On December 31, 2021, the Le Mandarin brasserie in Dijon (Côte-d’Or) will maybe cease activity. According to the manager, Valérie Queneau, the City of Dijon does not wish to renew the rental of public land on which his establishment is installed. The shopkeeper therefore initiated legal proceedings against the Town Hall’s decision. A request for the moment unsuccessful for this 52-year-old woman, at the head of the brewery since 2005.
An unexpected decision
On September 15, Valérie Queneau falls from a height. “I receive a registered letter from the town hall indicating to me the non-renewal of the lease, telling me to return the land“, explains the restaurateur. For the manager of this brewery, it is an unexpected decision. At the head of this establishment, she does not understand why the City of Dijon has decided so.”In 1985 my parents bought the brewery. They sign a 10-year lease and bought a business. It was the same from 1995 until 2005. My parents then decided to hand over their hand to me, so that I took over the management of the brewery that year. I then bought the business and signed a 7-year lease, until 2012. From then on, they were only precarious leases, by tacit agreement, ie from one year to the next. as long as I do not receive mail to tell me otherwise. Until I get the letter from the town hall“, she laments.
No change on the side of the city and the Metropolis
Valérie Queneau says she asked the municipality as well as Dijon Métropole, but to no avail. The only interview she was able to get dates back to October 18, with Marie-Claire Besançon. This is the Deputy Director General of Dijon Métropole in charge of Attractiveness and outreach. Without success, according to the manager of the brewery: “They told me that employees would come by to assess the amount that the dismantling of the building must cost, and that their travel is at my expense. They also suggested that I stay in the field, subject to obeying specifications, so to hire architects to draw the plans for a new building, again with my funds.“.
Administrative justice seized by the complainant
The person in charge of the Mandarin then launches a summons before the administrative justice against the Town hall, on December 15. She claims to be compensated for having to leave this land. According to Valérie Queneau, the town hall took note of this procedure: “Monday, December 20, my lawyers informed me that the lawyers of the town hall have contacted them“. For the manager of the brewery, this action allows her to keep the keys to the building, as long as she does not appear before the Administrative Court. She confides in being ready to fight, even if it must take time.”The procedure can take 18 to 24 months according to my lawyers“, says the manager of the brewery located on the shores of Lake Kir.
Contacted this Tuesday, December 21, the officials of Dijon Métropole concerned by this affair remain unreachable for the moment. The Town Hall of Dijon indicates that “the legal procedure is in progress, she does not express herself on the subject“.
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