Inside the fight to bring locals back to a beloved Paris landmark

Paris' Champs-Elysees has been at the center of the Olympics and has long been a gathering spot in French life. But many Parisians have fallen out of love with the area, with a new study saying just 5% of daily visitors are local. Michelle Miller has more on the plan developed by French officials to draw residents back to the landmark spot.
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[@JuanWayTrips]

Imagine going all the way to Paris and Champ Élysées just to eat....Five Guys.

[@BradThePitts]

Yes, I've seen Five Guys in many major international cities, and I've seen three dozen of them.

[@franciscouderq1100]

Crazy indeed

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

Similarly, when I visited Lima Peru, as well as Cancun last September, the airport food court only offers American fast food, even Dunkin donuts 😔

[@xerneasrising2412]

As an old New Yorker, this is comparable to never going to Times Square. Completely understandable.

[@jayzechab]

Bring back the movie theaters

[@franciscouderq1100]

Probably way too expensive , tho

[@aliochagouverneur]

French guy from Paris here, I live 20 minutes away from the Champs Elysées, last time I've been there was 10 years ago so ..yeah...

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

I hope the Monoprix supermarket is still there when I visit again 😊 I always buy my dinner there before going back to my hostel

[@oliviercorneloup7077]

@@___beyondhorizon4664yep still there

[@maxsupernova]

@@___beyondhorizon4664 The one inside/next to the Galaries Lafayette's location on the street there? It's still there. It's the only reason I go to the street. Some of the cheapest food in the 8eme!

[@thierrybo6304]

I remembered when the first Mac Donald opened in Champ Elysée in 1988, it felt like a betrayal for many parisians.

[@inigojuancarlos]

And now McDonald’s is flourishing in Paree. 😢😂 God damn!

[@jlasf]

This McDonalds serves nearly 1.8 million customers every year, making it the world's leading restaurant in terms of sales.

[@JohnAntonacci1]

My 1st time in Paris in Nov 2023, & I was very disappointed in it, quite underwhelming. Too many fast food chains. I don't blame Parisians or other French people boycotting that street, should only have upscale businesses there.

[@dianegenx]

I'm sorry you didn't get to experience Paris 30+ years ago. There were very few American shops/restaurants, far fewer tourists, and no one taking selfies. It was really great. Although now, you can still experience that 'older style' pretty much anywhere else in France, especially in smaller cities and towns. I hope you'll go back and explore the rest of France.. I think you'll really love it!

[@lempickavb3476]

I mean a first step would be to close the tourist-trap stores with tshirt & random plastic goodies & the like, & the fast food chains lower the image of the avenue too. For me, the half on the side of Arc de Triomphe is all about shopping, and only the lower half on the side of Concorde is truly beautiful with more parks and monuments. The higher half could be any other commercial avenue in Europe - some buildings are pretty but the density of stores (some high end, others low end, it's a mix if everthing) makes me forget about it. Other avenues such as avenue Montaigne or the other avenues that start from Arc de Triomphe are calmer & easier to enjoy for locals. I lived for 10 years 15-20min away from the Arc by foot, I always loved seeing the Arc but I only went lower if I had something to do there.

[@miguelcamacho9289]

Fast food chains are damaging the image!

[@damiengitt]

it's not the traffic killing the Champs Elyses it's the end of all the movie theaters, it's now over run by international chain store and fast food, even La Durée there is just a fake Copy of the original store a mille away ....

[@PresidentW100]

Every time I visit France, a stop on the Champs is a must. Love it!

[@user-bx1mf3zb8y]

You ll never meet a Parisian on this avenue

[@McCainnn]

have you ever been in Paris ? I don't think !

[@user-bx1mf3zb8y]

@@McCainnn j’y habite clochard

[@athrunzala6770]

j'y etais avant hier

[@brianhynds6201]

Their loss, doll.

[@SAGUY1971]

Seeing Sephora, Five guys etc etc (all American chains) confirms ones worst suspicions about the Champ-Elyses. I can imagine that there is nothing there that is attractive to the local French population.

[@Furitokama]

Sephora is a french chain. Locals goes to chains stores (there are plenty all over the city) but not when there are tourists and when things catter more to tourism than locals.

[@julien626]

Sephora belongs to LMVH

[@maxidrivemaxidrive4330]

Still the most beautiful avenue in the world! I used to be a local, loved it then and still love it today.

[@karenehlers2534]

Paris should remove all the American shops. Keep all the businesses local.

[@thaleis]

Local brands couldn’t do this (at this moment at least) because the renting prices of the shops there are among the most expensive in the world. Only international brands can afford this kind of showcase. It’s why the only things you found there are mainly cars dealerships such as Mercedes Benz or France luxury goods as Louis Vuitton. And beside some already well established restaurants, the most affordable place to eat there is Mc Donald…

[@didierjacob250]

se refermer sur soi ?? alors toutes les grandes villes dans le monde fermeront à leur tour, les boutiques françaises, Vuitton, Hermès, Chanel etc etc etc , c' est ça votre monde, et après, on refait la guerre ? vous êtes stupide

[@stephen10.]

We can have an iconic brand from each country on the champs élysées. The others american/ international brands can be on others streets around the champs

[@SoItGoesCAL34]

Back in the 80s and early 90s we would watch new releases of movies (v.o.) on the Champs Elysees. There were many small art house cinemas in other areas that were great with a nice atmosphere. I miss Paris but I know it has changed in 40 years. I was surprised to see the footage of 1950-60 cars on CE. So many, even back then

[@stephen10.]

Even in 1920's , 1930 's , there were a lot of cars

[@latinsb4u]

It is like that because it became a giant outdoor mall seeing same stores everywhere, instead they should encourage local or unique stores but affordable for Parisians with incetives that they can multi use the area, include local art shows, theater, and music, maybe a produce fresh market 😊

[@carolscholp3659]

They ruined it when they allowed McDonald's on it

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

But it's the only place to used the bathroom 😞

[@Nephoris]

Parisian opinion : This avenue used to be a hot place to go out (nightclubs, bars, cinemas), but for years, a lot of businesses meant for locals were replaced by useless luxury shops like Dior or Louis Vuitton. Now this avenue is filled with tourists, almost no one lives there, almost all the movies theaters have closed due to high rents, etc. The disproportionate amount of cars is also an issue to enjoy this iconic place. If you ever visit, know that there isn’t any cars every first Sunday of the month

[@GKP999]

I suggest having kiosks that allow first-time cooks who want to have a business to have a chance to get the space through a lottery system. They are allowed to use the space for a low rent for 3 years, then they can continue to rent the space at market rate or vacate the space if there are other people on the wait-list.

[@stephen10.]

Yes the same system than a building for start up . They give a chance to start their business with low rent and after the start up becomes a compagny.

[@trumpetjames1]

If you make it a tourist trap, locals won’t go. That goes for anywhere. Example, here in San Antonio, locals don’t go downtown for the river walk and the Alamo.

[@JustinCase99999]

Pierre Delanoë wrote the French lyrics to the song "Les Champs-Elysées". French singer Joe Dassin sang it (in french). The song is adapted from an English song called Waterloo Road.

[@franciscouderq1100]

Art Gallery and more expensive resto are not required we have plenty elsewhere but kids playground would be nice and a lot of sitting areas

[@boris2835]

I live in Paris and the champs suuucks... Fastfood chains everywhere..... tourist shops and expensive cafes

[@lioneliv3195]

Of course Parisians don’t want to go to the champs Élysées. There’s nothing to see there. It’s pretty far from the center, there’s only tourist traps, mainstream shops, overpriced restaurants, pickpockets, scammers, and beggars… Even as a French person visiting Paris I don’t go there. It’s nice to see once because it’s a landmark but then you never set foot there again

[@brianhynds6201]

It's a historic place though. De Gaulle led the French people down it when Paris was liberated in 2944

[@BOOMER751]

The Lido (famous cabaret), the Queen (historic night club), most of the movie theaters, and most of the affordable stores and restaurants have all closed. Rent is so high that only luxury stores and high end restaurants can survive. Why go there unless you're a wealthy tourist. Even wealthy parisiens don't go there as it's too touristy. As a local, It used to be a place you visited when you didnt know what to look for because you could find anything. Now the shops are only for méga rich tourists!

[@user-ez7rg9tz7f]

I love the way French embrace the tourist.

[@MrFawbosoft]

not route to his palace to Versailles but rather to Saint Germain en Laye, you are teeling false history

[@jlasf]

1: Joe Dassin, who wrote the song, wasn't totally "American". He was French-American, who lived much of his life in France. 2: They already removed some traffic when they got rid of the side traffic lanes. That's where the broad sidewalks are. 3: It's rebounded from 20 years ago. Like Times Square, C-E was dirty and tacky. But it was reborn with some of the finest store, like Vuitton and Apple.

[@eddieg6436]

……..the LAST thing I’d want to see on the Champs Elysee’ is ANYTHING AMERICAN!!!!

[@ak9989]

Well too bad😂😂😂

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

Macaroon is originally from Italy 😊 I'm glad our journalist pronounced the name correctly!

[@jmbig]

Oui ... Les plans ont l'air bien ... Faisons le !! 🤔👍👍

[@neimadparis9868]

I remember when I was a teenager, from the Paris suburbs, in the 90's, we used to go on the Champs Elysées to see a movie and have a burger on the week-ends, go see the CDs at the Virgin MegaStore (closed now), or a bit later in my 20's we used to go clubbing at the Queens (closed now too)... Nowadays it's only for tourists, nothing interesting there, the only time I went in the last 15 years I would say is to see the Arc de triomphe wrapped by Christo in 2021

[@rossrreyes]

As an American who’s been to Paris six times, over 20 yrs, 3 wks at a time, I’ve never been or had a desire to go to Champs Elysees

[@jojopuppyfish]

The rooftop views are awesome

[@7HPDH]

It’s a bit misleading to present Joe Dassin just as an “American songwriter” <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="43">0:43</a>

[@JustinCase99999]

Especially as he didn't write the French lyrics, Pierre Delanoë did, adapting an English song called Waterloo Road. Not many French people know it's an English song originally.

[@SamsCinema]

Less cars, more people. Pretty simple except the American mind has a tough time understanding that.

[@BradThePitts]

Apparently, the French didn't understand the concept of less cars and more people either. That's the entire point of this video, did you even watch It?

[@pantx0]

Au soleil, sous la pluie, a midi ou a minuit ....

[@zisssssou]

Unfortunately, the speculation has killed the soul of the Avenue. Old brasseries, cinemas and historic shops are replaced by Fast-foods, lounge crook bars and luxury flagships.... It's now just a place for tourists, sad, overpriced, dirty and with a plastic identity. Parisians never walk or have a drink there. Let's see how this project could change that.

[@jfrancobelge]

...and don't forget the beggars and pickpockets...

[@bradshawsstudio8410]

That is your impact the final stage of the the tour de France

[@jocosus3]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="92">1:32</a> Macarons....not macaroons. Mon Dieu!

[@CROM-on1bz]

I'm happy for them to change the aesthetics of the Champs-Elysées, but where will the army parade on July 14?

[@franciscouderq1100]

I guess Hidalgo would answer “on the other side” 🤣🤷‍♂️ macron just tried it

[@CROM-on1bz]

@@franciscouderq1100 And it was far from a success.

[@stephen10.]

4 lanes of traffic are sufficient

[@tommcfadden5232]

It’s the least of Paris.

[@Thunderworks]

Joe Dassin was American AND French.

[@franciscouderq1100]

….and?

[@PierreSlamich]

@pomplamoose I believe that's your cover 😊

[@puccaland]

Why would you like the locals to go there? The locals typically don't go there lol. Except maybe churches like Notre Dame for they actually serve for the locals. Never been up the Eiffel Tower and the only time I went up l'Arc de Triomphe that was to guide a Japanese tourist. The Champs Elyées avenue is of no interest for the locals. Only big chains and shops. Only a certain types of locals go there, thugs and tacky nouveau riches. They are making it greener, might attract the locals, but still not to go to the monuments and shops on the big avenue.

[@eddieg6436]

……Ladauree’ is NOT a good, AUTHENTIC French bakery!! Most things are FROZEN!!!!

[@didierjacob250]

encore toi ?? pour dire encore des bêtises?? si l' on congèle de la merde, il en ressort de la merde, si l' on congèle de l' excellence......misérable finalement, au lieu de venir ici, pour découvrir , aimer , toi c' est la bagarre triste

[@kevin_menon]

The main problem of Paris is it's not clean. Put more garbages and more toilets

[@therhodester]

Joe Dassin did not write the song, Les Champs Elysées. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Champs-Élysées_(song); They are macarons, not macaroons.Please do a better job of journalism.