Published on : 03/07/2022 – 10:46
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We know Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Odessa… Why not a Little Paris? In any case, it is the initiative launched by French women on the spot. They hope to create a neighborhood that could bring together many French businesses and introduce French culture to New Yorkers and other tourists.
With our correspondent in New York, Loubna Anaki
In a small street in southern Manhattan, green and blue plates, similar to Parisian street signs have appeared. They display two words: “Little Paris”.
Renaming this little piece of neighborhood is the idea of Léa Perret and her associates, who run Coucou, a French school located here. for Léa Perret, “ the idea was to really give the francophiles and francophones of New York, both the French community but also the American community, which is very fond of French things, a neighborhood in which to meet and appreciate everything that French culture has to offer ».
Especially since the district already has several French shops, restaurants, cafes, ready-to-wear stores. And what’s more, it doesn’t really have its own identity. “ When we try to explain to people where we are located, we are not exactly in Soho, it is a little further west; we are not exactly in Nolita, it is further north; we are not in Little Italy either, it is in the east; and we are not in Chinatown which is to the south. We are in a small enclave “explains Léa Lester.
A boon for traders
An enclave whose traders support this initiative which could energize the district and attract other stores, as Andrea Szot of Café Maman explains. “ It’s a great idea to have a hub for all things French for people visiting the city and will be able to see our Little Paris, she rejoices. Maybe some will even be French and feel a bit at home. »
For the moment, the name Little Paris is not official, but the initiators are counting on word of mouth and are already preparing a guide to the neighborhood’s addresses for July 14th.
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