The public auction of two well-located bars in the city centre of Draguignan was attended.

It's not every day that a judicial auctioneer raises his voice during an auction... The one that took place on the morning of Wednesday, July 23, 2025, on Place Cassin in Draguignan, was lively.

As Jean-Dominique Grossetti begins the public auction of the movable assets of the Bistrot and Pura Vida, he interrupts himself with a sermon: "Manoeuvres have apparently been made to prevent today's sale. (...) I remind you that if anyone here wants to buy the lease, the IV licence or the equipment, they can do so. We are here to ensure that this freedom is respected!"

A few minutes earlier, the neighboring business (Le P'tit Bistrot) suddenly increased the volume of its sound system on the terrace, thus disrupting the reading of the terms and conditions.

Already the day before, we reported in our columns about malicious acts . The poster announcing the auction was torn off the front of Pura Vida. And the one at the Bistrot was hidden behind thirty-one stacked chairs, one deserted more than a meter high, and two tables placed on top.

The sale lasted… one minute flat

The auctioneer's reprimands had the desired effect. The sale ultimately took place peacefully on the forecourt of the establishment.

Among the fifty or so people present, there were a few curious onlookers and 14 genuinely interested parties. Other potential buyers followed by phone or live online. At 10:30 a.m., Jean-Dominique Grossetti announced the first open auction for the Bistrot: "We'll start with a starting bid for the commercial lease at €15,000. And I already have a buyer on the phone!"

Prices soar instantly. Hands are raised one after the other. The number increases by a thousand euros per second. Then by 5,000.

Three people are fighting over the prize. On the other end of the line, the matter is quickly dropped. Two Varois (a restaurateur and an interior designer) fight over the loot until they can't take it anymore. At 90,000 euros, the restaurateur with the dark glasses hesitates. And gives up.

The auctioneer then takes out the hammer. "I award 90,000 euros to the person holding number 32!" The sale lasted... one minute flat. The interior designer, now the owner of the lease—which covers the entire building on four levels—avoids the stares directed at him.

A bidder placed on the bench

He continued his purchases by grabbing the IV license for €24,000 (starting bid of €12,000). But he narrowly lost all the equipment and furniture. A guy in a red t-shirt snatched it up for €14,500 (starting bid of €5,950).

But once the sale was complete, a dramatic turn of events occurred. The man backed out and requested the cancellation of his purchase.

Jean-Dominique Grossetti has no choice: he must reorganize a sale, especially for the equipment and furniture from the Bistrot premises.

Alas, the adjudicator continues. This time, it's time for the transfer of the lease rights, the IV license, and Pura Vida's equipment. And shortly after noon, another twist.

The same guy in the red t-shirt bids for the lease. He raises his sign bearing the number 33 and raises the bids. Up to 107,000 euros. The auctioneer warns him, reminding him of the previous about-face. The man finally assures him that he intends to go through with his previous purchase and continues bidding.

Doubting his goodwill and his ability to pay, Jean-Dominique Grossetti refused to take his bids into account.

A question remains surrounding the municipality of Draguignan

The battle is now being fought between a shopkeeper holding number 34 and two people on the phone. Here again, prices are skyrocketing. The Dracénoise finally wins the lease (for €112,000), the license IV (for €25,000), and all the equipment (for €4,000). She will not be able to set up any business there other than small restaurants, drinks, and the sale and on-site production of pastries.

All that remains is to be seen whether Draguignan City Hall will cut off the lucky buyers by exercising its right of first refusal. The answer will be expected within a month.

Please note: The businesses Le Bistrot and Pura Vida were placed in receivership on February 12, 2025 , but the manager appealed. On April 30, the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal dismissed his request, namely to halt the provisional execution of the judgment handed down in the spring. The judgment of the Court of Appeal states: "It has also been demonstrated that the de facto management exercised by Mr. Sofiane Seter was the result of a management ban resulting from a judgment handed down by the Fréjus Commercial Court on January 11, 2016, which declared the person concerned personally bankrupt for a period of eight years. And it is noted that upon the expiration of this period, he did not rush to regularize the governance situation" of the two establishments.