"In fact, it's zero impact"... In Fréjus, the statue of Johnny is of little benefit to the traders

"Quite a few people come to see the statue, but the economic impact on my restaurant is almost zero." With a confident voice, Afid Alexandre Tassil, manager of the restaurant La Marinière in Port-Fréjus, is adamant. The statue of the "Boss" that has stood near his establishment since last September has certainly increased the flow of tourists to the surrounding area. However, on a strictly financial level, the restaurateur has not benefited from it: "There aren't more people coming to my place since the statue was installed. People come to see Johnny, but that's where it ends ," he says.

The same story is heard at the restaurant Les Voiles de Port-Fréjus, also located on Place Johnny Hallyday (editor's note: since the inauguration of the rocker's statue, Place des Galoubets has been renamed "Place Johnny Hallyday"). An employee at the establishment, Myriam Moussu believes that "since the statue was installed, we have not been affected at all. It's the same as in other years. In fact, it's even worse than usual because we haven't had very good weather during this period."

Not the boost hoped for

On the same note, the team at L'Évasion, a brasserie located a few meters from the statue of the "youth idol," is straightforward. "We thought that out of season, it would give us a boost, but in fact, it has zero impact. The statue hasn't brought us anyone else," says a member of the team. However, the latter is much less categorical about the day of the inauguration (editor's note: September 21, 2024), during which many fans gathered in the square: "That day, it was crazy. We made the biggest turnover of the year! Even better than July 14."

Bikers have taken up their habits

A tidal wave that Gauthier Mulet, manager of the restaurant Le Cap Horn near the statue, also experienced. The young man goes even further, assuring that his establishment has become a real "HQ for the Desperados (the biker club co-founded by Johnny Hallyday in 1992, Editor's note). It's certain that we shouldn't remove it. We have quite a few bikers who come now . Every time there is a biker gathering, they always come to pay their respects here. It's interesting for us and I think that next summer, we will probably have more people than last summer."

A first anniversary that promises to be hot

Pascal Dufour, the international secretary of HDC Desperados, is categorical: "We want to keep the statue alive. With the town hall, we have decided to celebrate its first anniversary on September 20th . In the afternoon, there will be a biker run through Fréjus (the start is planned for around 2:30 p.m. according to Pascal Dufour, editor's note). The evening in front of the statue will begin around 5 p.m. with the mayor's speech. Afterwards, we will have two concerts which will begin around 7 p.m."

Among the artists who will be performing on stage, the group Insolitudes and the Céré Boogie Band will be there. As will Fred Chapellier, one of the guitarists who accompanied Les Vieilles Canailles: "Given the number of people who came to attend the inauguration last year, we decided to put a bigger stage on the other side of Port-Fréjus," explains Pascal Dufour.