Centre Deux

Centre Deux is a regional shopping centre located in the Bellevue-Bizillon district of Saint-Étienne, in south-eastern France. It was built in the late 1970s as part of an urban renewal project launched by Michel Durafour, then mayor of Saint-Étienne, aimed at revitalising a neighbourhood affected by deindustrialisation. The name "Centre Deux" ("Centre Two") reflects the ambition to create a kind of second city centre. The centre opened on 2 October 1979, anchored by the C&A clothing store and a Continent hypermarket. Over the decades, Centre Deux evolved through several changes. In 1985 it welcomed BHV (Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville), which occupied 4,000 m² on one level. In 1989, Auchan replaced Continent as the hypermarket anchor, and in 1995 Auchan expanded significantly after BHV left due to poor results. The centre underwent partial renovations in 2000 and 2005. In September 2020, C&A announced the closure of its Centre Deux store, affecting 13 employees. In November 2020, Mayor Gaël Perdriau announced a major renovation campaign, including the arrival of Irish fashion retailer Primark on 3,500 m². The works, budgeted at €20 million and funded by Klépierre, were scheduled to begin in April 2021. Today, Centre Deux is operated by Klépierre, a European leader in shopping centre management. The centre spans 39,000 m² of commercial space across three levels, housing around 80 stores (63 enseignes according to the official site), including 41 enseignes, 7 restaurants, an Auchan hypermarket, and offices on the roof terrace. It offers 1,500 covered parking spaces, free for two hours, and is well served by public transport, including tramway lines T1 and T3. The centre positions itself as a proximity shopping destination engaged in sustainability, with initiatives such as silent hours, renewable electricity in common areas, and waste reduction. It maintains an active community presence with over 13,500 Facebook fans and 6,000 Instagram followers.

The origins of Centre Deux lie in the urban restructuring studies launched in 1975 for the Bizillon-Bellevue district, an industrial area in reconversion that then housed the Fourchette prison. The studies recommended building an intra-urban shopping centre, a concept extremely rare in France at the time, to revitalise the city's struggling economy. In April 1978, the Saint-Étienne prison was transferred to La Talaudière, allowing the old buildings to be demolished and the shopping centre to be constructed. Alongside the centre, the entire neighbourhood was remodelled with housing and premises for tertiary and commercial activities, aiming to create a kind of second city centre, hence the name "Centre Deux". The shopping centre opened on 2 October 1979, welcoming the C&A clothing store, which was to act as a "locomotive" alongside the Continent hypermarket. On 14 May 1985, Centre Deux welcomed BHV (Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville), a major Parisian department store focused notably on DIY, which inaugurated its Angoulême store the same day. BHV occupied 4,000 m² on one level at Centre Deux. In 1989, the Auchan hypermarket replaced Continent, and it underwent a significant expansion in 1995 following BHV's departure due to poor results. Auchan was then spread over two levels. In 2000, the shopping centre underwent a renovation campaign, particularly of its car parks, followed by a second wave of renovations in 2005. In September 2020, C&A, present since the inauguration but facing financial difficulties, announced the closure of its Centre Deux store by the end of the calendar year, with its 13 employees subject to a social plan. In November 2020, the mayor of Saint-Étienne, Gaël Perdriau, announced that the ageing shopping centre would undergo a major renovation campaign and welcome the Irish fashion retailer Primark on 3,500 m² to compensate for C&A's departure. The works were to begin in April 2021 at a cost of €20 million, borne by the Klépierre group, a European leader in shopping centre management. Today, Centre Deux is a regional shopping centre with 80 stores (63 enseignes according to the official site) over a commercial area of 39,000 m². It is close to Saint-Étienne city centre, near the southern ring road (N88), and served by tramway lines T1 (Hôpital Nord - Solaure) and T3 (Terrasse - Bellevue). It is served by public transport (bus and tramway) and has a taxi rank, a bike station, and covered parking free for 2 hours. The centre is part of the Klépierre group, whose commitment to the planet, territory, and people translates into concrete actions across Europe, such as reducing energy consumption in common areas by 29% since 2013, using 93% renewable electricity in common areas, and reusing over 93% of waste.

• 2021

  Major renovation works scheduled to begin in April, budgeted at €20 million and funded by Klépierre.

• 2020

  C&A announces closure of its Centre Deux store in September; in November, Mayor Gaël Perdriau announces major renovation and Primark arrival on 3,500 m².

• 2005

  Second wave of renovations.

• 2000

  Renovation campaign, notably of car parks.

• 1995

  Auchan expands significantly after BHV leaves due to poor results; Auchan now spans two levels.

• 1989

  Auchan hypermarket replaces Continent.

• 1985

  BHV opens a 4,000 m² store on one level on 14 May.

• 1979

  Opening of Centre Deux on 2 October, with C&A and Continent hypermarket as anchors.

• 1978

  Transfer of Saint-Étienne prison to La Talaudière, allowing demolition of old buildings and construction of the shopping centre.

• 1975

  Launch of studies for the restructuring of the Bizillon-Bellevue district, recommending an intra-urban shopping centre.

Proximity shopping centre in Saint-Étienne, part of Klépierre group, focused on local community, sustainability, and accessibility.

• Auchan hypermarket

  Anchor hypermarket, present since 1989, expanded in 1995, spread over two levels.

• Primark store

  Irish fashion retailer planned to occupy 3,500 m², announced in November 2020 to replace C&A.

• C&A store (closed)

  Clothing store present since opening in 1979, closed by end of 2020.

• BHV store (closed)

  Department store occupying 4,000 m² on one level from 1985 until 1995.

1. 1Centre Deux - Votre centre commercial à Saint-Étiennecentre-deux.klepierre.fr
2. 2Centre commercial Centre Deux, découvrez son histoirecentre-deux.klepierre.fr
3. 3Services du centre commercial Centre Deuxcentre-deux.klepierre.fr
4. 4Centre Deux - Pharmaciecentre-deux.klepierre.fr
5. 5Centre Deuxwikidata.org
6. 6Centre Deuxfr.wikipedia.org