Now more than ever, the time has come to recycle ! In a world that massively produces new products every day, giving a second (or even a third) life to objects has become a true economical, ecological, and – provided that you like snooping around – sometimes more enjoyable alternative to « traditional » shopping. And places that give pride to this second-hand trade are growing and developping all around. You might be looking for furniture, utilitarian or decorative objects, clothes, jewelry or accessories... Regardless of what you are searching for, you can be sure that you will find many car boot sales, flea markets and thrift shops all around Paris. Everything is within easy reach ! So, here are a few suggestions to help you begin your abandonned treasure hunt... In this article, you will read about a few permanent shops you must visit. If you are interested in reading more about flea markets and car boot sales, please consult the following article.
A few permanent places you must visit
« L'interloque » : the cave of Ali Baba
« L'interloque » was the first « ressourcerie » to open in Paris. What is it ? The idea came from a desire of friendliness and public service : to enable locals to get rid of objects they no longer had use of, while allowing others to find various vintage objects for a small price. The principle of a car boot sale, simply put, but in a permanent indoor place. You can find a little of everything there : furniture, clothes, accessories, jewelry, table and kitchenware, various appliances... What is a bit special about this place is that the concept of recuperation is not only commercial, but also artistic : a good amount of objects that arrive at the depot are then transformed, put to pieces and then back together, then decorated to form unusual and funny pieces. Also, if you bring your bike to be repared there, your new saddle might very well end up with a pair of eyes on it … a house special !
Created in 2007 in the 18th arrondissement, L'Interloque now has several addresses in the capital. And the idea of the « ressourcerie » has also spread – as good ideas do : many new such shops have opened their doors in and out of Paris.
Practical information
Collection et depot at :
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8 rue de Trétaigne – Paris 18°
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13 rue Léopold Bellan – Paris 2°
Shops at :
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7 et 7ter rue de Trétaigne – Paris 18°
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14 et 14 bis rue des Cloÿs – Paris 18°
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22 rue Duc – Paris 18°
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13 rue Léopold Bellan – Paris 2°
The « Comptoir Général » : a place to hang out and look for hidden treasures
The Comptoir Général has auto-proclamed itself « Ghetto Museum ». But do not be afraid, behind this confusing name hides one of the most unusual and intriguing secret places in Paris. Why « Ghetto Museum » ? Because the vocation of this place is to defend, support and represent the exotic and little-known cultures that are often marginalized from traditional cultural places. The african continent, most of all, is very much represented there. In this immense and somewhat hard to label place, you will find a tangle of rooms, attics, courtyards and gardens in which one can have a bite, a drink or a coffee, or two, or ten... But you will also be able to browse in the thrift « shops », and the general car boot sale that spreads all around the place. A polyvalent place ? Add to that regular movie projections, various exhibitions, concert nights, a library, a disc store... and you may have an idea of the various programs that the Comptoir Général has to offer. It is a huge and yet friendly and intimate place, very poorly known (even by locals) and definitely different. In short, an extra stop you must add to your trip !
Practical information :
84, quai de Jemmapes – Paris 10° (metro station : République or Goncourt)
Open everyday from 11 a.m to 2 a.m