The iconic Parisian department store La Samaritaine is reopening its doors after a $500 million renovation. The store’s history dates back to 1852, and it has been closed since 2008 due to the economic downturn.
La Samaritaine: Reopening of Paris’ Iconic Department Store is a story about the reopening of the iconic department store in Paris. The story discusses how it has been reopened after being closed for 10 years.
The reopening of the department store La Samaritaine was one of the most anticipated openings of the summer season of 2021 in Paris. The store was formerly the apex of the Parisian shopping experience, but it was abruptly closed in 2005 owing to fire and safety concerns. For years, the original shop, which was located in two side-by-side buildings near the Louvre, was shrouded in uncertainty as to when it might reopen—or whether it was permanently closed—and all that remained were the big La Samaritaine signage.
In 1870, Ernest Cognacq and Mary Louise Jay, a husband-and-wife partnership, established La Samaritaine as a location where clients could easily buy for dry products under one roof. It was the first store to include price tags on every item and to enable customers to explore without being trailed by salesmen. The successful formula resulted in fast growth, and in 1910, architect and Art Nouveau expert Frantz Jourdain constructed a magnificent Art Nouveau shop on the rue de Monnaie, just off the rue de Rivoli. To keep up with the extraordinary popularity, a second shop was built in 1928, but this one was fashioned in the new, more pared-down Art Deco style, and the two stores together produced 90 departments containing virtually everything.
The LVMH Group purchased La Samaritaine in 2001, and after several delays, it reopened in June 2021. SANAA, a Japanese architectural firm, created a new, towering all-glass structure with dramatic curves that connects the ancient and modern. We arrived via the glass structure, which seemed to be similar to any other contemporary department store in the globe, but we were blown away when we saw the restored 1910 building. We gazed in awe at the intricate ironwork on the atrium’s balconies, which had been carefully repaired and gleamed in all their splendor.
We then went down to the lower level to check out the skin care, cosmetics, and perfume department, which is now Europe’s largest, and found a wide selection of luxury French brands like Frederic Malle, Christian Louboutin (who has his own line of lipsticks and nail polishes), Caudalie, Biotherm, Guerlain, and Benefit, as well as international labels like Jo Malone, Makeup Forever, Fresh, Shiseido, and Marc Jacobs.
We found in-store men’s and women’s shops on the main and higher levels, including Gucci, Dior, Prada, Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten, Givenchy, and Isabel Marant. The women’s shoe section, which takes up the most of the fourth level, offers a diverse and impressive variety of current designs, enough to please even the most jaded shoe connoisseur.
The Lou Lou Boutique, created by fashion legend and muse Lou Lou de Falaise, is located on the main level and features a colorful and whimsical selection of stylish accessories, clothes, jewelry, home goods, and objets.
A patisserie bar by Dalloyau, with exclusive pastries made only for La Samaritaine, a street caviar bar from Prunier, with French caviar delights (including a baguette topped with the delicate fish eggs), an outpost of Eric Kayser with the freshest sandwiches, bread, quiches, and baked goods, and the Zinc, a coffee bar from r Voyage, the store’s flagship restaurant, is situated on the fifth floor and has a cocktail and mocktail bar run by mixologist Matthias Giroud, as well as a culinary menu that updates French classics with a modern touch. Several tables offer views of Paris from the rooftop.
Have fun shopping!
Visit www.dfs.com/en/samaritaine for additional details.
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From “Emily in Paris,” Iconic Locations
La Samaritaine is a department store that has been in Paris since 1852. It was originally located on the Rue de la Monnaie, but moved to its current location in 1866. Reference: la samaritaine paris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did La Samaritaine close?
La Samaritaine is a department store in Paris, France. It was founded in 1852 by Henri Nestlé and his wife Cécile Moullé. They sold their interest to the company in 1864. In 1869, they opened an ice cream parlor on the ground floor of the building.
When did La Samaritaine close?
La Samaritaine closed in 1909.
What is the famous department store in Paris?
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