Marques Avenue Romans is an outlet shopping centre in the centre of Romans-sur-Isère, in the Drôme department, occupying the former Caserne Bon military barracks, built in the late 19th century for the 75th Infantry Regiment and redeveloped by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte in 1998. The outlet opened in 1999 and today has more than 80 stores. Romans-sur-Isère was one of France’s principal footwear-manufacturing centres, an industry that expanded through the 19th century, peaked in the decades after the Second World War, and gave rise to internationally recognised names including Charles Jourdan, Stéphane Kélian and Robert Clergerie; the city retains its association with footwear through the Musée de la Chaussure.
Current stores include Adidas, Nike, Puma, and Arena in sportswear, American Vintage, Claudie Pierlot, Sandro, Maje, and Napapijri in contemporary fashion, and Lancel in leather goods. The homeware offer includes Le Creuset, Descamps, Anne de Solène, and Garnier-Thiébaut, alongside Armor-Lux, Kusmi Tea, and Lindt.
The centre is located within the city rather than beside a motorway interchange, and is accessible from the A49 via exit 7 at Chatuzange and from the A7 via the Romans-Tain-l’Hermitage and Valence Sud exits.
The city’s footwear manufacturing heritage, even if production has largely ceased, gives the outlet retail format an additional layer of local relevance.
