Kith in Paris' Pershing Hall

It’s an exciting new development in our city: the opening of Kith in Paris' Pershing Hall. 

We look at the result, as the former luxury hotel reopens as a modern ‘concept store,’ alongside retail, dining, and office spaces.

It’s set to combine the latest American styles in a Parisian setting and is the first Kith store not just in France, but the whole of Europe.

A premier shopping destination in Europe

Pershing Hall is a beautiful and historic townhouse, located in Paris’ Golden Triangle. 

The triangle covers the area between avenue Montaigne, avenue des Champs-Elysées and avenue George V, in the capital’s 8th arrondissement (district), known for its fashion houses, boutiques, and unsurpassed views of the Eiffel Tower. 

Stepling, the Paris-based property and investment group has masterminded the opening of Kith. It brings something new to the triangle, already one of Europe’s premier shopping destinations.

A French-American connection

Established by the American Legion in 1928, Pershing Hall marks the events of World War I with a dedication to John J. Pershing, who at the time was General of the Armies. 

The building is still American to this day, falling under the ownership of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the past 30 years.

You could say its ties with the USA make the property a serendipitous choice for Kith, the American sneaker and sportswear brand. It maintains the American-French connection, almost 100 years old.

But to most Parisians, Pershing Hall is most famous for being a boutique hotel, designed by the legendary Andrée Putman.

This glamorous retreat was famously decorated inside with a huge vertical garden, designed by Patrick Blanc. It rose up the main wall of the hotel’s reception, a 30-meter-high expanse of greenery.

Kith’s first address in Paris

The opening of Kith in Paris' Pershing Hall marks the brand’s first address in the French capital, and the whole of Europe.

The results of the transformation from hotel to retail space are nothing short of spectacular, as revealed on Kith’s own website.

Walking through, visitors walk under a ceiling adorned with 427 gleaming white plaster sneakers, weighing over seven pounds each, and each one signed by the American artist Daniel Arsham. 

This work of art is almost like a temple to the American sneaker.

A look inside Kith in Paris' Pershing Hall

Further in, the famous garden wall has a new take. Still green, only this time created by the Jardins de Babylone.

Inside the former hotel, the Kith retail space takes up 1500m², around half of the real estate.

The rest of the townhouse is available to rent for retail and office space, with rates from 850 to 900€/m².

Alongside the Kith clothing and footwear space, there is also a new dining area: Sadelle’s restaurant is another first for France. It specializes in high-end brunches and bagels, and is quintessentially New York, albeit with a French chef. 

There is also an ice cream bar serving cereal-infused ice cream. This is another creation by Kith’s founder Ronnie Fieg, and is certainly unique!

The concept of a ‘concept store’

So what exactly is a concept store? 

The last retail experience with this title in Paris is the legendary Colette, a boutique that closed its doors back in 2017.

In the same way, a concept store is a new way to browse and shop, an immersive customer experience. 

For Kith, the retail section includes an ‘apartment.’ So rather than shelves or racks, all items are around the cozy space, with every object inside available to purchase.

The Kith store officially opened a few weeks ago, but due to the containment, is receiving visitors by appointment only.

The opening will return to normal business in the coming months, with the easing of lockdown measures.

Up to date with the latest trends in Paris

At 56Paris, we stay up to date on all real estate trends, in both the business and private sectors.

Despite the current challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current containment, we are continuing to work with our clients.

Just one example of a property currently listed with us is in the area is this one-bedroom Saint-Augustin apartment. Located in the 8th and near the Champs-Elysées, it is fully renovated and sits in an elegant neighborhood.

For any inquiries, please get in touch with the team at 56Paris to see how we can assist you. 

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Photo: Julia Stanic