In 1787, the building hosted the restaurant Le Cheval Blanc, became one of the first café-concerts.[1]
The current building was erected in 1901–1902 by architect Édouard Fournier. The Art Nouveau restaurant was decorated by Louis Trézel, Armand Ségau and Hippolyte Boulenger, and opened in 1903 as Gandon-Fournier. In 1924, the establishment was handed over to Julien Barbarin. Several signs representing peacocks were made by Armand Ségaud, whereas the mahogany counter is attributed to cabinetmaker Louis Majorelle. Louis Trézel depicted four women on several sintered-glass panels inspired by Alfons Muchas's iconography.[2]
The tiled floor, which depicts a wild aquilegia and daisy meadow, was crafted in Hippolyte Boulenger's pottery works in Choisy-le-Roi, whose headquarters where located in the neighborhood of the restaurant.[3] At Julien Barbarin's request, Georges Guenne's company installed large window panes which let the natural light pour into the room; the drawings of the windows were made by Charles Buffer, the father of painter Bernard Buffet.[3]
In 1938, the restaurant was renamed Julien (or Chez Julien).[2]
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