In Tarnos, in the south of the Landes region, a few meters from Métro beach, there is a chiringuito that looks like many others. But Metroloco is much more than that: it is a cooperative restaurant, unique in France, run entirely by young people between the ages of 18 and 26. Founded in 2019, it is now an innovative model of professional integration, combining summer jobs, training, and support for the local economy.
Young protagonists, salaries included
Every summer, around ten young people join the Metroloco team, which is open from May to October. This is not just a seasonal job: the young people actively participate in all decisions, from creating the menu to managing supplies, from communication to accounting. Even their salaries are determined by them, based on turnover and hours worked. This system empowers them and brings them closer to the world of entrepreneurship.
A simple, locally sourced menu
The heart of the project is also in the kitchen. The menu, designed and prepared by young people, is simple but carefully crafted: chicken burgers, hot sandwiches, fresh salads with local produce. There is no shortage of gourmet touches such as piquillo pepper cream or Bayonne ham. The drinks reflect the same philosophy: Basque teas, Euskola craft cola, and local beers. At least three-quarters of the ingredients, as reported by El País, come from a network of producers in southwestern France, thus supporting the local economy and offering customers an authentic gastronomic experience of the region.
A springboard for the future
Metroloco is not just a restaurant, but a real-life training ground. For many young people, it represents their first professional experience, while for others it is an opportunity to put what they have studied into practice. Some dream of working in tourism, others are training in catering schools, and others simply want to put themselves to the test. However, everyone learns how to manage a cooperative business, dealing with real responsibilities and acquiring valuable transferable skills for their future.
The social impact of an innovative project
The initiative was launched by the Pôle Territorial de Cooperation Économique Sud Aquitaine (PTCE), a network of companies, associations, and institutions that develops projects with a social impact. With Metroloco, the goal is clear: to offer inclusive job opportunities, regardless of initial economic or social status. And the results are clear to see: over 60 young people have already participated in the project since 2019, many of whom have decided to embark on new experiences in the world of social enterprises or catering.
A model that inspires the whole of France
The success of Metroloco has led to similar experiences in other French cities. In La Rochelle, for example, Restokoop has been created, a restaurant within a residence for under-30s in difficulty, while other initiatives are taking hold in the center and south of the country. In a sector such as catering, where France is short of around 200,000 workers due to harsh employment conditions, this cooperative model represents a new way of motivating and attracting young people.
More than just a summer job
Metroloco is not just a beach bar: it is a laboratory of ideas, a meeting place, and an opportunity to imagine a different future. Here, young people learn that work is not just about execution, but also creativity, cooperation, and responsibility. A small beach bar with big ambitions, proving that another way of doing business—one that is more inclusive, sustainable, and participatory—is truly possible.
