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Paris Wins Battle to Regulate Dark Stores After Court Decision

France’s top administrative court ruled that dark stores are warehouses, allowing Paris and other cities to boot rapid-delivery sites from residential areas.

A delivery rider outside a Gorillas dark store in Paris. 

A delivery rider outside a Gorillas dark store in Paris. 

Photographer: Cyril Marcilhacy/Bloomberg
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France’s top administrative court ruled on Thursday that dark stores are warehouses, paving the way for Paris and other cities to boot them from residential areas.

So-called dark stores, distribution centers for super-fast delivery of groceries and other household items, have proliferated in many urban neighborhoods over the last few years. Fueled by plentiful venture capital and pandemic demand, startups like Getir, Flink, Frichti and Gorillas opened around 60 dark stores in central Paris.