Iconic Parisian Department Store La Samaritaine Reopens

The historic La Samaritaine Parisian department store has reopened in Paris after 16 years of extensive renovation work. The legendary landmark that dates to 1870 was closed in 2005 over safety concerns, after being acquired by French luxury goods group LVMH in 2001. On Monday June 21, French president Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the newly renovated La Samaritaine, and today the wait is finally over the public who will be able to visit the iconic department store and live a true Parisian experience. 

The historic Art Deco and Art Nouveau landmark that has been renovated, with no expense spared, and is now back to its magnificent beauty with a modern twist. LVMH enlisted Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architecture studio SANAA for the undulating glass façade of the historic landmark, and several studios for the renovation of the luxurious interiors, such as the Toronto/New York firm Yabu Pushelberg who redesigned the art nouveau interior, the New York-based Karen Pearse for the floors, American architect Peter Marino for the hotel, and French designer Hubert de Malherbe for the beauty section.

Set between the Seine river and the rue de Rivoli on the right bank, across from the oldest bridge stone in the capital Pont Neuf, La Samaritaine spreads over 70,000 square meters and contains 20,000 square meters of retails space over three floors, a Cheval Blanc hotel with 26 rooms and 46 suites, a daycare center, 96 housing units, and 15,000 square meters of office space.

Cheval Blanc hotel

The retail space will welcome more than 600 brands. Luxury and designer names such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Balmain, or Chloé are of course present, but La Samaritaine also features more niche and affordable brands like Nanushka, Maje, Ganni, Y Project, as well as emerging labels like Petar Petrov or Awake, and Parisian labels like APC and Atelier de Nîmes. The beauty section will showcase sustainable beauty brands, as well as major beauty labels, and the spa services by Parisian Spa brand Cinq Mondes.

La Samaritaine will also be the coveted address for food lovers, with numerous dining options throughout the store and the top floor completely dedicated to gastronomy, showcasing a bar, a lounge, and a restaurant.