IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE CUSENIER BROTHERS
The 226 Boulevard Voltaire property complex is one of these emblematic places that testify to the formidable industrial past of the 11th district, a stone’s throw from the villages of Faidherbe, once known for its cabinetry workshops, and Paul Bert, appreciated by gourmets for his first-rate mouth shops.
Behind this address was hidden the house Cusenier, founded in 1868 by Eugène Cusenier, and known for its liqueurs, absinthes, mandarinettes, plums and other spirits now forgotten.Originally from the Doubs, At the age of 26, Eugène Cusenier founded his first absinthe distillery in Ornans. Unquestionably, he has many talents at the same time to develop his business and also to develop innovative beverages.
Born in Doubs, Eugène Cusenier founded his first absinthe distillery in Ornans at the age of 26. Unquestionably, he has many talents at the same time to develop his business and also to develop innovative beverages. From then on, the “startup” Cusenier grew, and in 1871 Eugène Cusenier set up a factory at 226 Voltaire Boulevard. He set up his head office there as well as a sales shop.
He was good at business, but he didn’t neglect his employees. He is even a precursor in social matters: remuneration of the sick employee, taking charge of care and distribution of everyday consumer products during the working day in order to avoid the theft of goods.
At his death in 1894, the brother of Eugène Cusenier, Elisée, then took the general direction of the company and continued its international development, particularly in Argentina, to make it a flagship of French export trade.
Three years before her death, Elisée Cusenier had the building that we know today, on the Boulevard Voltaire side, with on the ground floor and on the first floor the company’s headquarters and the sub-officefloor a vault to keep the brand’s secret formulas safe. In the upper floors, accommodations are created for employees of the distillery.
In the 1960s, an office building replaced the industrial hall. Over the years, the surrounding buildings continued to change, housing became the majority and the remaining activities were increasingly tertiary. The former fief Cusenier then becomes the headquarters of the B2V mutual which will occupy the premises until the beginning of the years 2000 before the RATP acquires it to deploy a command center of the metro, project which will eventually be abandoned in 2006.
In 2015, Deskopolitan bought this exceptional property from the RATP. We took it to heart not to erase the traces of history that, like a nod to the startups of today, make us walk in the footsteps of our forefathers entrepreneurs. Now it’s time for work.
