Is the Champs-Elysees losing cachet? Reuters reports: "The study for the mayor of Paris by consultants Clipperton Developpement says the city and local businesses need to take action to ensure the avenue stays what the mayor's office called 'a symbol throughout the world of the Parisian art of living.'"

"The warning is the latest in a regular series that the avenue was losing its cachet and degenerating into little more than a tourist magnet and venue for mass celebrations like the street party that greeted France's win in the 1998 World Cup."

The Champs-Elysees? A tourist magnet? You don't say!

You may have your head in the sand, but we'll break it to you that this does appear to be a reality with stores like Virgin, Adidas, Prada, Sephora, Nike, McDonalds, and any neighborhood's final nail in the coffin: Planet Hollywood.

Recent controversy regarding Sunday store openings [fr] (not to mention the stunt of shirtless men who model goods as human mannequins, otherwise known as Shoppenboys) on the Champs-Elysees [fr] further presses the issue:

À ce jour, environ 70 % des magasins de l'avenue sont ouverts tous les dimanches. Ils bénéficient d'une réglementation de 1994 en faveur des zones très touristiques. Mais celle-ci se limite aux commerces culturels, touristiques et sportifs. « Les étrangers ne comprennent pas pourquoi un magasin sur quatre est encore fermé...», reconnaît Dominique Rodet, déléguée générale du comité des Champs-Élysées.

To date, approximately 70% of the stores of the avenue are open every Sunday. They profit from a 1994 regulation in favor of zones that are very touristy. But it is limited to the cultural, tourist and sporting trade. “The foreigners do not include/understand why a store on four is still closed...”, recognizes Domenica Rodet, deputy general committee of the Champs-Élysées.

Parisist can't think of the last time we heard of a local actually suggesting to meet at a cafe along "the most beautiful avenue in the world," but the story continues to say that Parisians (perhaps mostly transplant ones) still flock to the Champs-Elysees for its movie theaters. "'Without them, Parisians and people from the surrounding area won't have any reason to come and look around in the area and we'll lose not just part of our night life but a whole local aspect as well,'" Dominique Rodet, Comite des Champs Elysees head, told LeParisien last week.

Hey Paris locals... Big mall? Good for cinema? Best to avoid? What's your opinion?