ooohhhhh... luscious and yummy like candy!!!!

I stopped in here after my sister was raving about how special this shop is. She had found an amazing set of antique crystal lamps for her bedroom. They are definitely beautiful and accordingly to the owner, they are from Lalique.
My visit was an eye openning experience. Not only were the colors and patterns of the various linens and antiques captivating, but the owner was so helpful and informative. He certainly had pieces that were well above my budget like Galle lamps and vases but he took time to be very helpful in putting together a set of dishes with a table cloth and napkins that I desparately needed for an upcoming dinner party. Sufffice to say, my dinner table looked AMAZING. I really made the right impression on my son's future in-laws. Can't wait to use my new pieces this coming Thanksgiving. I may just have to stop in to treat myself, I mean my guests, to a few new pieces or a candle or a bed spread or...!

My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting this store a few weeks ago. My only problem with the store is that there wasn't anything I didn't like. Nothing is in there by hazard and every single thing is charming in one way or another, I wanted to buy it all! We talked with the owner for a bit, who is charming as well and doesn't mind telling you about the details of his products. It was our first time there and it certainly won't be our last.

This boutique is "fantastique"! I noticed this store last summer on one of the first friday evenings when all the local galleries open their doors to the public. The inside and exterior of this store is a beautiful art installation in it's own right!
The products are meticulously arranged throughout the store in a sort of organized chaos! Everything is something you can picture in your home and if I didn't have any self control, my credit cards would be maxed out...
The owner, Sylvain, was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The man knows his products. He sent me off with my vintage kitchen hardware and antique ashtray with a
big smile as he followed me outside to have a smoke of his own... Very French!

After reading 4 out of the 5 reviews and all the above information I suspect the owner wrote the positive reviews about himself and his store. I was visiting Boston and went to this store because I was looking for a particular product he sells. I entered the store and asked the owner if he could show me the product samples - meanwhile I sat down in a chair, since I knew I would be there a long time picking out what I wanted. The owner turned around and told me he had just had the chair reupholstered and not to sit there. I stood up and politely asked if there would be another place to sit while I pick out my samples. He rudely replied that there was not a place to sit and if I wanted to sit I should go to the mall. Needless to say I left immediately. I just couldn't believe that in a store full of tables and chairs the owner could not be corteous and offer
a customer a place to sit. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS STORE! My experience was very similar to the reviewer lthomas so that should tell how the owner behaves towards his customers

I feel somewhat validated after reading two of the comments posted. While shopping in a nearby retail store, I stopped by this shop to admire and peruse the lovely merchandise. I was greeted by the delightful dog ... I wish I could say the same for the owner.

Upon entering the store there was no one in sight so I began looking around. The owner then walked briskly past me singing ... I tried to engage him by commenting that he had lovely things to which I received a curt "thank you". I then continued by asking him a question about his dog which I thought surely would illicit some type of enthusiasm. On the contrary ... it was met by a one word answer. I dismissed his less than friendly, or helpful attitude and continued my browsing.

I am as well a mature woman who has experience in the design realm and have handled fine pieces. I noticed a set of oyster dishes on a table and picked one up to admire more closely. I was very interested in purchasing them. A thunderous roar came from across the room and the owner demanded I put the piece down. He ran over and ranted about how perfect they were, about their origin and that I should ask for assistance as was indicated on a sign. The sign was in front of a piece of sculpture on the same table, and I thought it pertained to that piece only. I could do nothing except just look at him ... I was aghast. He walked away and since I was still interested in the dishes, I asked for his assistance to which he responded ... "take your attitude to Newbury Street". In shock I asked him if he was refusing to help me and he turned his back and went into the back room. I exited the store immediately.

This individual should not be in business and his arrogance is totally unacceptable.

I stumbled upon this store while in Boston recently for an antiques show down the street from the shop. From the windows, the inside looked so delightful, I had to enter. The owner did ignore me, which is fine, I like shopping in peace until I need help...but as soon as I touched anything, he was all over me like white on rice. Each piece was a precious antique that apparantly, I was incapable of handling without breaking. His demeanor was rude and humiliating at the same time....as if each potential client was a child needing scolding.
I looked around, touched a few things, got my head handed to me several times (which was amusing...how can a public shop owner come so unglued when people shop his place?) I mean really, what is the big deal? If you don't want people to touch and feel your merchandise, perhaps an e-store with pictures only is the way to present your goods.

If you want to be treated with respect, courtesy and kindness while you hand over ALOT of your hard earned for anything, by all means, shop here. But truly, this is fertile ground for someone to come in with a camera and crew and film a few moments of this train wreck of customer service torment the customers. If you have a sense of humor and don't care to buy anything, check this place out! You'll have lots of laughs later at the Gaslight cafe discussing this imbecile.

This store has a lot of lovely stuff, but in addition to paying for it in cash, you pay for it in having to put up with the owner's attitude. If he dislikes people so much, I don't quite know why this individual is in retail and if his merchandise is so precious, it should be displayed in museum cases where one could look at it but not touch.

BTW, people on this site are kinder than the ones on Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/tour-de-france-boston-2), where the reviews are uniformly critical of this jerk and his unfriendliness to customers. My advice: there are plenty of merchants who are helpful and will welcome you to their stores. Stay away from this place.

I have never met some one so rude in my entire life. My friend and i just went there today after visiting some galleries in the area. When we entered the store we weren't acknowled. Unfortunatly this idiot had the sweeted dog. when the dog greeted us we said hello and pet him for a moment. when i looked up to tell him how nice of a dog he had and what breed, he rudely cut me off mid sentence in his stupid accent " if your here to just pet my dog then you can leave" so we did. i cant believe some one like him has a store. this isnt france and americans dont treat people so pompusly. if you dont want people to pet your dog then dont have him in the store letting him greet people. however the dog had more manners than that baffoon will ever have. maybe he should take some lessons or let the dog deal with the customers. dont shop here this man is too obviously to good for everyone. i hope he goes out or buissiness. im just going back to pet his dog

My husband and I just returned home from a beautiful day at the SoWa Arts Walk in the South End of Boston. The only bad thing about the entire day occurred when we, unfortunately, decided to enter Tour de France. The asshole who I believe owns this store was the most rude, unprofessional human being I have ever come across in my entire 48 years!!! Merely having had a conversation with the man (and I use the term loosely), I feel I am a lesser person. His attire should have been a tip-off (bizarrely dressed like some kind of European ne'er-do-well). Anyway, it's no wonder that I'd never heard of the store before because once a person has had the misfortune of subjecting themselves to this guy's false sense of self, one would never ever wish to return.

After reading these comments I've come to the conclusion that some of you have way too much time on your hands.

Why do you feel the need to bash the owner? I've worked in retail for 25 years and dealing with the general public is no easy task. If it were me I simply would not return and leave it at that.

Our world is filled with negativity. Why add to it?

Exactly, Avatar2. The world IS filled with too much negativity and that is why I, and others, felt obliged to steer others clear of this store owner's appalling and condescending attitude. There are plenty of other stores selling the same, and better, merchandise which don't subject their patrons to such an unpleasant shopping experience.

People's lives and times are far too precious to waste on this pompous store owner.

I agree with pattyabriano (see comment above.) ...the owner is uncivilized, uncultivated, lacking in polish and grace...he stank of cigarette smoke as well.

I read the reviews on yelp.com and noticed that many of the bad reviews are the same - nearly word for word - as on this site. It seems strange that people were so traumatized by their experience at Tour de France that they feel the need to go from site to site detailing their interactions with the shop owner. Behaving poorly is never a good idea - but this goes for shoppers as well. I owned a store for many years and can guaran-damn-tee that most of these hyper-sensitive reviewers would be left in a puddle of tears after dealing with the general public day in and day out. My fellow shop owners and I would regale each other with stories - the winning one involved a customer actually relieving herself in a corner and then trying to sneak out before the shop owner noticed.

I think all you Sensitive Sallys need to cut the owner of this store some slack - if he is like the rest of the independent store owners out there in this economy, he has no doubt poured everything he owns into this enterprise, financially and otherwise, and works 7 days a week on average. It might be fun for us to come in and poke around on Sundays in between slurping our Italian ice and buying a $10 belt made from a ribbon at the craft show just outside his door, but that doesn't mean it's particularly fun for the owner.

I'm just a regular slob, but when I went into his store today he was pretty nice to me. I enjoyed myself as I looked at all of his amazing textiles and antique and contemporary tableware, but maybe this is because I didn't flop into the nearest chair to take a load off, or mindlessly pick up item after item while answering my iPhone, or turn to my friend and say "You can get this exact same thing at Target!" within earshot of the owner. I didn't assume that the owner owed me obeisance just because I walked in the door. Entering an establishment doesn't make you better than the person working there - Americans seem to operate on the class system when it comes to retail. Shoppers, I know you're feelings were hurt by the shop owner, who was not grinning at you like an overmedicated Wal-mart greeter when you walked in. (Yes. Wal-mart has Greeters - it's an actual job.) But I hope you'll realize that not everyone can please you all of the time - people in retail are actually human, and - shockingly - they are not perfect. And another thing (while I'm at it) - I, for one, am getting sick of this trend of racing around "reviewing" every experience people have out here in the world, an experience usually based on a single moment in time where their lives intersected with a particular plate of food or a particular product or a particular shop owner - all of which - or whom - might have just had an off-day.

Rockport all I have to say is Bravo! You're perspective is dead on. Thank God there is someone else out there who doesn't expect the world to revolve around them.

Love thy neighbor and cut them some slack. Isn't that what it's all about?

You're missing something if you bypass this shop. I've shopped the country, and some others besides...you will not find the selection of textiles under one roof anywhere.
The owner is a character and one who is passionate about his wares...enjoy the quirkiness and experience. The shop is kind of museum-like as the owner has selected furniture, furnishings, and accessories in the manner of a curator. Tour de France is one-of-a-kind, and I'm a happy customer
for it!
- Emily, NYC

I was there yesterday and got the same unbelievably rude treatment by the owner. After reading the other comments here, I am guessing that he has some sort of mental problem. I asked if he had any table runners, and he kept saying in a loud robotic voice "HELLO!!! HOW ARE YOU!!!"...by which I suppose he meant I hadn't met his standards for verbal interaction. Or something. Anyway...I will not visit again.

To the persons comment far above saying that the service industry is hard, I would say this, I have spent 16 years in the industry. I went to this store yesterday (Tues at 3pm) to find cardboard boxes in front of an open door and a bed outside. I assumed someone was moving a purchase out. I leaned in to ask if the store was open for the man to respond verbatim "Seriously? What are you? Stupid? Can't you read the sign next to the door?". Need I say more.....I have reported him to the BBB and hope anyone who reads all the comments on Yelp (including mine) would do the same if they have these experiences. I would urge Apartment Therapy not to endorse this sad excuse for a human.

I'm surprised by some of the comments suggesting this store owner should be not be commented about by those he treated badly. I too have worked with the public for years, and sure, there are some customers who behave poorly. But there is really no excuse for a shop owner to yell maniacally at a customer (me, yesterday) for touching a tablecloth. Who would not touch a tablecloth before buying it? I happened to be looking for a price tag, but seriously, if you sell textiles, you can't expect people not to touch them. To add to the surreality of the situation, after I apologized he ranted about how there were signs clearly indicating they were not to be touched. I looked around and saw no sign. The two people with me looked around and saw no sign either. I asked him where the signs were, thinking I had overlooked them, and he began pointed at the tablecloths hanging on the wall yelling "Here!" and "Here!" and yet there were no signs. I said, "Where?" and all he could do was keep pointing at the tablecloths on the wall, yelling "Here!" There were NO signs on the wall. I asked him, "Do you always treat your customers this way?" but by then he was storming off to the back of the store. I truly don't understand how this man stays in business, except that judging by some of the comments further up, he can turn on the charm when he wants to. A woman who was shopping in the store at the same time yesterday and witnessed the scene hurried out behind us and said, "What a rude man! I will never buy anything from him!" My sentiments exactly. And if he thinks he has a right to treat people that way, then I think we have a right to write about it. His attitude is a awful blemish to my otherwise lovely neighborhood.

Avoid even making eye contact with this shop and the crazy owner who lurks inside stalking and yelling at customers.

Looks like someone must have missed Customer Service 101. The owner of this store had a psychotic episode during our visit. While I'm not a clinician I truly think he may be mentally ill which could be the only explanation for his bizarre and vulgar behavior.

I'm still in shock thinking about how this retailer conducted himself this afternon. I've NEVER experienced anything quite so offensive; so unexpected. Judging from the reviews here the only comfort I have comes from the fact that I'm not alone!

I made the colossal mistake of walking into what looked to be a fabulously inviting French home décor store. In under 2 minutes we had reached a large table piled with napkins and a tall imposing man scurried over and stood learing behind the table. In a rude nasty heavy French accent (which I normally enjoy) he said, "Do not touch my textiles".

Having an expertise in counseling corporate clients to manage bad-apple employee behavior I couldn't help but calmly point out that he was welcome to ask us not to touch the "textiles" but that his tone and demeanor were uncalled for. Whoa did that set him off. He went into an explosive tirade that my children were unsupervised, which they were not; as they were right by my side. He also felt the need to shriek that this was not the mall (and that's relevant why?) and that this was his store. Let me note that he was screaming at the top of his lungs and people began leaving the store. I then said he was embarrassing himself and that he should be ashamed of his behavior. He also told us to "get out". Towards the end of the "exchange", which now had gotten me quite upset, I hinted that medication might be in order (the tranquilizing sort).

Quite simply my children, my friend and I were in a state of shock. He was quite literally coming out of his skin: angry/temper tantrum child-like behavior. I might even go as far as saying he could pose a physical danger. Actually the exchange was quite fascinating for the work I do and I'll be sure to site the example when the opportunity arises. Hey, thanks for the material. I just wish my friend had thought quick enough to capture the exchange on video. Now this would have an A1 opportunity to go viral: "Shopkeeper Goes Ballistic". Maybe a project for someone next weekend.

He did succeed in putting a surreal kink into what had been a nice day at the market which included having my six year old son in tears all the way home.

The owner of this shop is SO RUDE. He must be mentally ill for him to behave the way he does. The sign on the door clearly states that you are not allowed in there with drinks, so my husband and I sat outside (on a low garden wall, not the furniture for sale) while we finished our iced tea. He had a problem with us sitting there because he came out and jostled a rack of fabric aggressively and loudly before walking away, and then he came back and told us we were sitting in a place that was not meant for people to relax and acted like we were doing something really bad. My husband told him we were finishing our drinks because we were going to go into the store, but I told the owner we were NOT going in due to his rude behavior. He was like, "That is fine by me." What a jerk! He has a serious attitude problem. Go check out Yelp for more heinous stories!

@Rockport - The owner is an animal. I don't expect the world to revolve around me, but I do expect to be treated humanely when entering a shop (and respecting a rule posted on the door). I don't deserve to be verbally abused for doing so. If anyone needs to cut anyone slack, this owner needs to cut his patrons some slack!

DO NOT GO TO THIS STORE! present day "Soup Nazi". This guy, Sylvain (sp?), who owns Tour De France is a complete maniac. He accosted my mother this past weekend while she was perusing through some of his tablecloths and told her she "belonged in a mall" and to leave him alone and give him his space! Apparently this is how he seduces all of his potential customers. If you read through his Yelp.com reviews you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. My personal fave is the one where he attacked a woman who was wearing her newborn in a baby carrier... they had to call the police on him...

He is a terrible human being and shouldn't be allowed to own a store so that he can harass and discriminate against his clients

Totally agree with the comments about Sylvaine. I was there last summer and thought it was me. And I'm a Francophile. Nice things but you can get them elsewhere.