Today we took a coffee break at Numéro 8, which has just celebrated its first year on the Verbier town square. At Besson Immobilier, we particularly appreciate this café-bar at any time of day, whether it's to enjoy a cappuccino, have an aperitif or round off the evening. The atmosphere is unique and warm. We had the privilege of meeting its owner, Jean-Marc Rohrer, to get to know him and revisit his career.
The story of an eclectic man
Jean-Marc Rohrer, a native of Lignières in the canton of Neuchâtel, embodies a life where football, business, conviviality and a passion for nightlife blend harmoniously. Born in 1965, he was immersed in the world of football from an early age because of his family ties with the Facchinetti family, an emblematic family of Neuchâtel Xamax. After training in insurance, Jean-Marc moved into the banking sector before joining the Marcel Facchinetti family garage, which was sold in 2005. However, his true development and the construction of his identity were forged in the world of football.
Football: lifelong friendships
Jean-Marc Rohrer's life was profoundly shaped by his passionate involvement with FC Serrières football club, where he successively held the roles of player, player-president and then club president for 20 years, as well as a stint as sporting director at Neuchâtel Xamax in 2007/2008. But it was around the playing fields that he inscribed all his memories, shaping an indelible memory at the heart of this sporting community. His club FC Serrières was much more than just a group of players; it was a real family with an exceptional spirit, ready to move mountains together.
A team forever united
Jean-Marc and his FCS team-mates often took the time to meet up in restaurants, creating warm, spontaneous memories. These moments were imbued with a convivial atmosphere, where friendship and solidarity were the watchwords. Over the years, this team has also welcomed new members: their children, who have grown up in this world, helping to create priceless family memories. These lasting ties have played an essential role in his career, becoming the source of inspiration that has shaped his subsequent success. Driven by this human warmth, he decided to transcend his sporting experience by creating welcoming venues such as the Rodolphe Avant-Club from 2008 to 2019 and the Marina, in the Port of Neuchâtel, from 2016. The Marina has become a must-visit venue for Neuchâtel locals, filling the gap he perceived in the local bar scene. His passion and leadership, initially revealed in the world of football, have blossomed in a successful reconversion, marked by the success of his establishments.
From Neuchâtel to Verbier, from the lake to the mountains
His deep attachment to the mountains, passed on by his father and grandfather, is echoed in Verbier, where he has spent weekends and holidays since his youth. From the age of 4 in 1969, he started working in the Fer à Cheval restaurant with his parents, close friends of Pascal and Sonia Burri, the emblematic owners of this establishment. For many years, he organised oxygenation breaks for his FC Serrière team, giving them the opportunity to play against FC Bagnes or other Valais teams, and to enjoy the conviviality of the 3rd half in the heart of Verbier. Later, attracted by resort life, the authenticity of the mountains, nature and the atmosphere that reigns there, he found a constant source of inspiration. It was here that he drew his energy, and this deep connection culminated in the acquisition of Numéro 8 in 2022.
The story of the new bar in Verbier :
Numéro 8 began with an opportunity promptly seized at the end of August 2022. Jean-Marc bought the building on the Place de Verbier and decided to create a bar on the ground floor and a small hotel on the upper floors. The challenge was considerable: the winter season would start four months later and the building would need a total renovation. Thanks to the efficient collaboration of local businesses and their professionalism, Jean-Marc successfully met the challenge, transforming the place into a real gem. Accompanied by his friend Manon, who took charge of the decoration, Jean-Marc's ambition was to create a warm and welcoming space, reflecting a true mountain atmosphere. Unlike the Marina, which is only open during the summer season, he wanted to keep it open all year round, thus filling a gap in Verbier. His aim was to bring together a diverse clientele, ranging from workers to bankers, from resident English speakers to seasonal workers, from families to his friends from Neuchâtel and French-speaking Switzerland... With humility, generosity and great sensitivity, Jean-Marc has brilliantly succeeded in his challenge, thanks to his vision and his ability to listen carefully to the needs of the resort. He has transformed his bar into "the place to be", aiming to create a solid business with the power of an institution, where everyone can feel at ease.
His strength
Jean-Marc Rohrer is close to people and stands out for his hard work, almost hyperactivity, although this does not show in his rather quiet appearance. With a propensity to doubt and frequently question his choices, he invests himself fully in every undertaking to avoid any subsequent regrets. His ability to surround himself with the right local businesses and the right people reveals his entrepreneurial flair. Although demanding as a boss, he cultivates a remarkably open mind and places immense trust in his staff, who repay him in kind.
As a result, every visit to Numéro 8 becomes much more than a simple outing. It's an immersion into the fascinating world of Jean-Marc Rohrer, where the pleasures of the mountains combine with the conviviality of an exceptional place. A not-to-be-missed event, where the history of this vibrant place blends harmoniously with that of its founder, creating a unique and memorable experience.