Paris Retailers Count Losses After Second Wave of Protests

October 25, 2026 - 22:28

Shop owners across central Paris spent the morning clearing debris and tallying damage after a second round of demonstrations swept through the city's commercial districts. Many businesses stayed shuttered for much of the day, and those that opened reported steep drops in foot traffic compared with a normal weekend.

A bookseller near the Marais said he closed early on Saturday after crowds blocked the street outside his door. He estimated the two protest days cost him roughly a third of his usual weekly revenue. Nearby, a cafe manager described broken glass and a smashed display case, adding that insurance paperwork would take weeks to sort out.

Retail associations say the repeated disruptions are hitting smaller shops hardest, since they operate on thin margins and cannot absorb back-to-back lost weekends. Some owners have asked city officials for clearer guidance on protest routes so they can plan staffing and deliveries.

Police reported scattered clashes and dozens of arrests, though most of the marches remained peaceful. Several major department stores reopened late in the day with reduced hours. Traders say they support the right to demonstrate but want a way to keep shopping streets accessible while protests move through the city.