The popularity of the Netflix series “Emily in Paris” has brought about a surge of tourism to a small Parisian neighborhood where the show was filmed. The Place de l’Estrapade, located in the historic Latin Quarter, has become a hotspot for fans of the romantic comedy series. Visitors can take photos, selfies and even twirl like the show’s protagonist, Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, who lives in an apartment in the area and frequents a nearby bakery and restaurant.
While the increased tourism has been beneficial for local businesses, such as the Boulangerie Moderne, which features in the show, it has also been disruptive for the residents who live and work in the area. Some have voiced their displeasure through anti-Emily graffiti, including the phrase “Emily Not Welcome” scrawled on the facade of the apartment building where Emily lives. However, the graffiti has also become a tourist attraction in its own right.
Despite the mixed reactions from residents, tourists continue to flock to the area, enamored with the picturesque setting and the chance to walk in Emily’s footsteps. Some even take language lessons to brush up on their French, inspired by the show’s portrayal of Parisian culture. The success of “Emily in Paris” has boosted the profits of local businesses, but the long-term effects of the show’s popularity on the neighborhood remain uncertain.
As Stephanie Jamin, a resident of the area, points out, the Emily craze is temporary. “It is as ephemeral as the series is,” she said. “After the Emily frenzy subsides, there are people like all the shopkeepers of the district who will have benefited enormously from it, and it allowed them to start up again after COVID. They needed that.” While the show has given the neighborhood a boost, it remains to be seen what the future holds once the Emily in Paris fever dies down.