Marc-Olivier Taccard

“The books are what lure people in.”

By Pauline Weber

Marc-Olivier Taccard’s bookshop, Le Vestiaire à MoT, is dedicated to sports literature. You wouldn’t have thought this former TV reporter, who spent much of his career with AS Monaco, was predestined to make the move from images to the written word. The idea first arose when he was desperately looking for a collection of football poetry by Valentin Deudon. He’s excited by the idea of spotlighting talents that haven’t had the publicity they deserve. 

“I needed to give my life meaning. To create a place for getting together around books and sport, a place where people can take a break and get some culture…” And it works! Le Vestiaire à MoT, recently opened in the Libération neighbourhood, attracts people in the know but also people who pass by its dark green shop front and see the bike and the old Acropolis armchair. “You’d be surprised how many authors have written about sport. Like Jack London about surfing.” Marc-Olivier Taccard has made a good round-up of sports literature, including his own favourites and ideas from his personal network. “Historian Claude Bolli, who works at the Musée du Sport in Nice, selected about a hundred indispensable books for me,” he says. Le Vestiaire à MoT also wants to bring sports culture into the business world. Everything here is designed to inspire: there are writing and drawing workshops and lessons in eloquence and teambuilding. “You always feel good surrounded by books. And if you want to be alone, the co-working areas and meeting rooms are there for you.” Talks by writers and athletes are held as the occasion arises. Right now Ouissem Belgacem and Ernest-Pignon Ernest are on the list of upcoming guest speakers. 

19 bd Joseph Garnier

Nice

Tél. 04 93 04 81 94

levestiaireamot.fr