The flower shop Les pensées d’Anaïs was inaugurated on Thursday, November 5th at 11, rue Saint-Pierre in Lourdes. The event brought together personalities such as Aurore Francius-Smith, sub-prefect of Argelès-Gazost, Thierry Lavit, mayor of Lourdes, and Julien Jacob Lemaitre, deputy mayor in charge of commerce.
Anaïs Beni-Griffon, the owner, took over the shop where she began her apprenticeship, relocating it to a renovated space. This new, described as bright and pleasant, area was praised by Aurore Francius-Smith: 'When you enter, you just want to buy something.'
The building, formerly the home of commissioner Jacomet during the time of Bernadette Soubirous, preserves a section of the original wall. This historic site, now part of the Chemin de Bernadette (Bernadette's Path), was highlighted by Mayor Thierry Lavit as a way to 'not forget the story of Bernadette Soubirous.'
“"We all want here that the story of Bernadette Soubirous is not forgotten."
The shop's offerings have expanded to include indoor and outdoor plants and dried flowers, in addition to cut flowers. The new layout also allows for monthly workshops for adults and children, focusing on creating vases, bouquets, dried flower arrangements, and jewelry.
The project, supported by the City of Lourdes and the Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Agglomeration Community, received assistance from the Commerce Department. Julien Jacob Lemaitre emphasized the collective effort in establishing this business.
“"I am overjoyed every morning when I wake up: I know I'm going to have fun in my shop."
Anaïs Beni-Griffon expressed her gratitude to the City, the CA TLP, and the Commerce Department for their support. The shop is open from Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6:30 PM, at 11, rue Saint-Pierre.
