Update of June 8th: The highly anticipated reopening of La Samaritaine, the famous Parisian department store, has been delayed once again. Initially, it was announced that the store would reopen its doors to the public on June 19th, but the new date has now been set for June 23rd at 10 am. This delayed reopening is the culmination of sixteen years of twists and turns for La Samaritaine.
Back in 2005, the department store was forced to close for security reasons. However, the LVMH Group, which has been the majority shareholder of La Samaritaine since 2001, made the promise to reopen the store by 2020, coinciding with the establishment’s 150th anniversary. The project then faced numerous setbacks due to the need to preserve the building’s historical heritage. The main store building is classified as a historical monument, requiring extensive renovation work.
To carry out this ambitious renovation project, LVMH enlisted the expertise of renowned architects and designers such as Sanaa, Hubert de Malherbe, Ciguë, and Yabu Pushelberg. The entire project has come at a staggering cost of around 750 million euros, according to a statement from LVMH.
Once reopened, La Samaritaine will be managed by DFS and will offer a multi-sector experience, showcasing a carefully curated selection of 600 brands. Visitors can expect a unique blend of luxury powerhouses and emerging actors within the 20,000m2 space dedicated to the department store. In addition to the shopping experience, the department store will also feature the luxurious Cheval Blanc hotel with 72 rooms and the first Langosteria restaurant outside of Italy.
The development of La Samaritaine also includes the creation of 15,000m² of office space, an 80-bed daycare center, and 97 social housing units managed by France Habitat. This comprehensive project aims to revitalize the historic site and contribute to the local community.
Please add these two relevant links to the article:
1. LVMH – La Samaritaine
2. DFS – La Samaritaine
