Lot-et-Garonne. "We knew we were expected, but not to this extent!": as soon as their bar restaurant opened, they had to hire

In La Sauvetat-sur-Lède, with a population of 686, Loco Burger has had a surprising start, making Lucie Malbec and Léonard Patrice proud.

"The idea was to open a small restaurant, just for the two of us. The first night, quietly on social media, we served 80 people! The whole week that followed, we were absolutely focused. We had to scale everything up and hire more people..." Léonard Patrice savors. With his partner Lucie Malbec, he opened Loco Burger at the end of May, a bar restaurant on the edge of the busy Monflanquin road (RD 676), which runs through the village of La Sauvetat-sur-Lède, population 686.

The couple moved there three years ago and are discovering the joys of rural life just outside Villeneuve-sur-Lot. "We hear that there are only old people, but that's not true; there are a lot of young people. People are happy to see us; they really played along. We knew we were expected, but not to this extent," Lucie says.

After 28 years as a saleswoman at La Belle Jardinière, recently liquidated under the Eysses market hall in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, her ever-present smile now extends to her own customers. Léonard, for his part, has "done it all": salesman, delivery driver, educational assistant, and a few extras at… Original Burger, also in Eysses.

When the space became available at the end of November, the couple were tempted. "We redid everything and created a welcoming space. With our resources, we created something that appeals, in keeping with the chosen theme. We're quite proud of ourselves," says Léonard, "even if we didn't expect it to take on such a huge dimension right away."

The village, which a few weeks ago was hit with the announcement of the closure of a class at the municipal school , its main attraction, now has a place to meet, right next to Eric Brismalen's barber shop, with whom bridges were quickly created. "We waited until we were really ready," Leonard almost apologizes. "But it took a long time." Convincing a bank to follow them in such an adventure is not so easy. The couple's infectious good humor must have helped. The Mexican-inspired skull that sits in the window didn't dissuade anyone. On the contrary.

"People ask us if it's a franchise, but no, we did it all ourselves." The place's identity is strong, inspired by the owner's nickname and the movie "Coco," which the owner's children love. It doesn't go unnoticed. Here, the king burger and its 18 variations, available to eat in or take away, sit alongside paninis, salads, platters, brunches, and other cocktails. A menu focused on "quality street food, with fresh meat every day."

To achieve this, they can count on the support of Julian Supernant, who has worked in the kitchens of Allées Gourmandes, Avana, Glacier, and Villa Dollia in Villeneuve. And for the service, his girlfriend Sade Renac has joined the adventure. The two men, who knew each other, had exchanged the day before the opening, without imagining working together anytime soon. Crazy, right?

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. (approximately).