Mystery photo - Can anybody guess what this depicts?

What I will tell you:

>> This is a photo taken on Google Images Street View

>> There is something important about the location.

>> It has to do with what existed previously where the new apartment building stands.

>> What existed previously included a shop of some sort.

>> The location is in France.

>> It has nothing to do with Lava Lite or Crestworth!

Please add your guesses below. When someone guesses correctly or comes close enough, or if the guesses are all too far off, I'll explain. Suffice to say, there is history in this location, though I doubt anybody who lives or works there knows it. It was by complete chance that I was able to look this up, using information from an item unrelated (mostly) to those we would normally be thinking about when we think of this spot (assuming the "we" described knows what this spot is about.)

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