SHOPS AT THE CROSSING

IN GOING UP AVENUE D'IVRY YOU COME TO THIS JUNCTION

Take rue de Tolbiac. We will return to Avenue de Choisy later. 

 

To its left:

Soleil d'Asie

130 rue de Tolbiac

To its right:

The first shops mentioned below are behind the red car.

• A tiny shop chock-full of Vietnamese wares, present since 1987

Shanghai

      120 rue de Tolbiac

 

"Arms are a witness of the past and of technical skill [...] and are marked by beliefs and dreams [...]." 

The second vest I have bought there

Monsieur Kang may tell about the civilization that produced these wares.

 

• Next to it, a humdrum facade and splendid tableware from Japan

China art 

      120 rue de Tolbiac

• Next door, a skin care salon, for whose excellent services one must often reserve a week in advance (since 2020).

Makina Beauté Paris

118 rue de Tolbiac

It had been a place for money transfers to Asia, often in cash from the neighboring restaurants. When an inspector asked to see the receipts, the owner left. 

Yue and Guillaume Guillet bought the site: "We worked in an office... ."  

 

• Across the street, a store whose decor is color and cartons

Chinaco

127-129 rue de Tolbiac

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Vendors often go beyond what Westerners expect.

This salesman checked every piece for cracks in a tea-service on sale for 11€. A colleague kept an article I'd bought for 1€ and forgotten, giving it to me when I returned several months later. 

Vendors of the excellent, modestly priced wares

seem proud of their professions and culture,

and not to work for salaries alone.

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Next,

 2.4.1.d.

The Tang supermarkets,

symbols of the neighborhood