War Against the Terrace

If you have never had the pleasure of having a drink (or more) and listening to live music at the chic Club RaYé in the 2nd arrondissement, then by all means, put this on your must-do list. You can’t miss it for its black and white awnings and striped motif on the corner of rues Dussoubs and Saint-Sauveur. Every inch of Club RaYé is devoted to style and comfort, down to every last detail in the WC and beyond.

RaYé is the product of an American entrepreneur named Kein Cross who is not to be deterred from realizing his dreams. The decor personafies the owner, an interior designer from New York who came to Paris with a ton of ideas and a barrel of money. Meanwhile, the City of Paris and the French administration has presented one obstacle after another. With each hurdle, Cross seems to become even more ‘cross’ and more determined to prevail. It ‘ain’t’ easy, but Cross hangs tough and refuses to let the authorities squash his dreams to have a successful enterprise in the heart of the city.

Across the street from the club is an open space that he would like to turn into a “contre terrasse” for the club. On any normal day, the corner is a haven for trash, vagrants and often thugs and drug-dealers — not a pretty sight or a safe place for the residents or his clients. In order for Club RaYé to sustain its current level of business, and in fact, to survive, the contre-terrasse is essential. When I quizzed Cross about the space, he wrote: “I have made a huge investment of time, money and love in this project. I have worked with the neighbors, started a commerce association of almost 30 members to promote Paris and the 2nd. I have gotten press from the New York Times to promote the district. I have employed as many as 10 employees. I follow all the rules, pay all my taxes and fees. I have no problem paying for the use of this space, as is the normal procedure in Paris. When I opened Club RaYé the space across the street was a total dump!”

For years he’s been trying to get a permit for the contre-terrasse from the Mairie of the 2nd arrondissement. He keeps the area clean so that it will be a nice spot for the residents and tourists. Even though the club is a music venue, he’s more than conscious of the noise and claims to be one of the quietest music establishments in the city. He even rents the apartment above the club himself in an effort to disturb no one else.

Cross has a petition signed by many of the neighbors who are thrilled to have the terrace as it enhances their environment, brings in tourists and helps the economy. (The city never even responded.) He’s been told by other local businesses that since Club RaYé has opened their own sales are up over 20%. The terrace consists of only 12 chairs at the most, but is the difference between “Success and Failure” for Club RaYé. It’s not the sales on the terrace that count, but the “beacon of light” it creates for the entire district. As a result of diminished business since the November attacks in Paris, Cross has been forced into reducing his staff by 50%.

Getting the permit seems simple on the surface. Visit the Paris web site  and with the click of your mouse, you can supposedly make your request online. There is a link to the PDFform one can complete and mail in. The fee structure is too complex for a layperson like me to understand, but to Cross, well worth paying the fees.

Cross was denied permission by the Mairie this past June to create the contre-terrasse. Without the tables and chairs, the trash, vagrants and drug dealers have reappeared. He counts his €600,000 to establish the club in 2013 and boasts of how much the neighborhood has prospered by its presence. The corner where the club sits was once a dilapidated squat and thanks to Cross, is one of the chicest spots in Paris. “Without the contre-terrasse, I have lost 70% of my activity and I couldn’t keep my 12 employees,” said Cross in a recent interview by Le Parisien.

The question is WHY Club RaYé is being denied the simple honor of improving the corner badly in need of such a face lift!? Cross suspects that it’s one individual in the administration who has it ‘in for him.’ Is it because he’s an American with a dream, and not a Frenchmen? Or does he simply want to show his power and authority by making it so difficult so that Cross will have no choice but to surrender to defeat?

Either way, this American is not about to give up so easily. What can we do to help Cross in his goals? 1. Patronize the club, of course. But more and more press is needed to convince the Mairie of the 2nd of their injustice! I suggest (with Cross’ permission and guidance), stage a ‘sit-in’ on the corner 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, with music and food and revelry…until all the media comes out in force and the city gives in.

Other ideas? Email them to [email protected].

A bientôt ,

  Adrian Leeds
  The Adrian Leeds Group

  Respond to Adrian: [email protected]

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