2024-01-03 13:41:00
Just surprising to see Avenue Delchambre, this major artery of Huy, so empty on a Wednesday morning… Same thing, moreover, along Avenue des Ardennes. Wednesday is the weekly market day and when the weather is nice, there are crowds.
Wednesday following Wednesday, between 75 and 80 street vendors set up shop along one of these two Hut arteries. But there, this Wednesday morning, nothing or almost… Four merchants installed along the lime trees of Avenue Delchambre and not much more, a stone’s throw from the main square. Among them, three roasters. And the customers, at 9 a.m., were in no hurry either…
The street vendors took their side… Frédéric, from the “Poulet le Meilleur” establishments, from Ans has been setting up his rotisserie on the Huy market for around ten years. His observation is clear: “there is a deterioration in the number of customers and merchants.” Such an empty market two days following the New Year? “January and February are bad months anyway. The winter markets are the most difficult.” And last Wednesday? “There were a few more people.” Frédéric, however, planned this: he did not prepare many chickens. “We also organize ourselves according to the weather…”
The rain and the wind did not encourage people to leave their homes this Wednesday morning. However, the “La chique d’Helena” truck was there, at the entrance to avenue Delchambre, ready to welcome candy lovers. While the boss was sorting the quid, the lady was waiting for the regulars. But “the weather doesn’t help, people prefer the sun…” A stone’s throw away, along the main square, there were two roasters and a cheese merchant who attracted a little more customers. But not enough, either, to make a good turnover…
It’s clear that at the very beginning of the year, the weekly market is not great “but here, it’s even more than that…”observed Jacques Mouton, the Hut alderman for Fairs and Markets. “When there are strong winds and rain forecast, merchants prefer not to come. And there aren’t many more customers.” The merchant who comes with his truck that he just has to open, “It’s easier. But the one who has to put everything together… With the wind and the insecurity under the trees, he prefers not to come. Besides, there are some who are on vacation.” The merchants know that these will not be big days; some don’t move. However, those who have an annual subscription try to make the most of it. And the ruffles? Them, “we only see them when the weather is nice”.
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