A CROSSROAD FOR ASIAN COLOR

ON AVENUE DE CHOISY YOU COME TO A CROSSING

Take rue de Tolbiac 

 

• On its left:

Soleil d'Asie

130 rue de Tolbiac

• Then on its right:

The first two of the Asian 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.

 

• Behind a humdrum facade, 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 full of cartons

Chinaco

127-129 rue de Tolbiac

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Employees often go beyond what Westerners expect.

This vendor 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,

Still more color