In the picturesque southern French town of Arles, a café meticulously crafted to mirror the ambiance of a bistro depicted by Vincent Van Gogh has shuttered its doors due to legal entanglements since July 2023. This establishment, inspired by Van Gogh's esteemed "Café Terrace at Night" (1888) and "The Night Café" (1888), was a homage to the Dutch painter's work during his stay in Arles, showcasing both the tranquil exterior and the vibrant interior of a local eatery under the cloak of night. Named Café la Nuit, the venue became a magnet for tourists, drawn by its faithful reconstruction of Van Gogh’s vision.
Café terrace in the evening (1888), Vincent van Gogh, musée Kröller-Müller
Despite the café's popularity, a local retailer criticized it for being an overpriced imitation. The reconstructed café found its place in the historic center of Arles, on the Place du Forum, a location different from the original that Van Gogh painted, which was situated in the Place Lamartine, near Van Gogh’s residence. The original location met its demise in 1944 due to Allied bombings.
The initiative to replicate Van Gogh's painted café sprang from the minds of three Arles residents in the early 2000s—a property developer, a heritage conservationist, and a journalist. Their vision was brought to life with the help of Marseille businessman Roland Zemmour, who took ownership of the café. Their efforts culminated in an exacting recreation of the café as depicted in Van Gogh’s paintings, earning it a spot as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cafe Terrace Arles, credit: janderk via wikipedia
However, the café's management faced scrutiny in 2015 when it failed to produce necessary tax documentation during an audit, including inventories and financial records from the preceding three years. This omission led to accusations of evading VAT and business taxes by underreporting turnover, with allegations of concealing over €1 million in sales from 2012 to 2014.
Consequently, Roland Zemmour received a prohibition from managing any business for five years by a French court in 2021, coupled with an order to settle all due taxes, additional surcharges, and penalties. Lazare Zemmour, one of the managers, was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence. In a further blow to the establishment, Roland Zemmour was declared personally bankrupt for a decade in 2023.
As it stands, Café la Nuit remains closed, casting a shadow over its future and leaving a void in the hearts of those who sought to step into a scene painted by Van Gogh himself.
Selena Mattei