Don Camilo, the legendary Parisian cabaret, is closing its doors

The owner of this performing arts institution throws in the towel after a decade of financial difficulties.

The Don Camilo cabaret, which has seen most of the big names in comedy and song, will close its doors, one of the sons of its founder, Richard Vergnes, told AFP on Friday, December 1. “The last [le dernier spectacle] is scheduled for December 16″declared Richard Vergnes, confirming information from Figaro.

“The final sale is planned for the following week” added the man who took over this institution located on rue des Saints-Pères (7th arrondissement) in 2012, following his father, Jean Vergnes, who created it in 1953.

The death of a major Parisian venue for live entertainment

The closure follows financial difficulties encountered over the past ten years: “attacks in Paris, Yellow Vest demonstrations, Covid, wars… All these events paralyzed our activity, people no longer had morale and no longer wanted to have fun”he said, specifying that the “4.5 million euros injected into the company” in the period will not have been sufficient. “This is no longer tenable”.

The Don Camilo – originally a restaurant and a performance hall – has seen people pass on its stage “80% of the greatest French comedians and singers, who made their debut there”, estimated Richard Vergnes. Among them, Léo Ferré, Mouloudji, Enrico Macias, Georges Moustaki, Thierry Le Luron, Serge Reggiani, Charles Trénet, Manitas de Plata, Darry Cowl, Pierre Perret, Raymond Devos, Michel Leeb… Richard Vergnes said he did not “no idea” of what the place will become. “It will no longer be a place of live performance.”he indicated.