With the recent Paris Samaritaine reopening, our capital has regained one of its iconic shopping meccas.
We examine the story behind this famed department store as it welcomes back shoppers after a 16-year hiatus.
An Art Nouveau gem
Known affectionately as ‘La Sama,’ La Samaritaine is one of the most famous stores in Paris. It occupies a prime site on the Seine in the city’s 1st arrondissement (district).
Inaugurated in 1870, it reigned for the next century as Paris’s premier department store.
The current building is a gem of Art Nouveau architecture and dates from 1910. Facing the Seine and the Pont Neuf, it has giant letters spelling out ‘Samaritaine’ across the roof.
Since 1990, this building is a monument historique (protected monument) as listed by the French Ministry of Culture.
Like Saks in New York and Harrods in London, La Samaritaine is legendary, and frequented by both tourists and Parisians.
After 135 years, concerns about the building’s safety, and other business decisions behind the scenes, led to the closing of the store.
It has remained empty ever since.
Delays to the Paris Samaritaine Reopening
Having closed its doors back in 2005, the Paris Samaritaine reopening has taken far longer than anyone expected.
LVMH, the luxury group behind fashion labels such as Louis Vuitton, spent €750 million on the makeover, according to reports.
There have been many years of delays and false starts, as the renovation work slowly took place, something we reported in this blog.
The store was finally planned to open in April 2020, but delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, finally, the doors are open and welcoming back the public.
Features of the new Samaritaine
So what can visitors expect when returning to La Sama?
For the past five years, the original Art Nouveau buildings have been painstakingly restored. A new contemporary wing now enhances the original buildings, while an undulating contemporary glass façade gives a dramatic first impression.
Masterminded by Pritzker Prize-winning studio SANAA, the revamped store is nothing short of spectacular.
Filled with natural light, 20,000 m² of shopping space in the main mall sits under a stunning glass roof known as an ombrelle (umbrella), surrounded by beautiful frescoes. The original wrought-iron staircases descend through the center of the main building, all beautifully restored.
Inside, shoppers are truly spoiled for choice, with over 600 luxury brands and designers, of which 50 are exclusive to this store. There is also a concept store within the department store.
The luxury floor includes iconic French brands Chanel, Dior, Alaia and Christian Louboutin, while other areas feature everything from Scandinavian chic to Marc Jacobs.
There is a dedicated 3,000 m² beauty area, including a studio and wellness spa. Epicureans will revel in the 5th floor, which is entirely dedicated to food with restaurants, cafés, and tearooms showcasing a wide selection of French specialties.
A new Cheval Blanc hotel
Along with these spaces, La Samaritaine will soon feature a 5-star Cheval Blanc hotel with 72 rooms, scheduled to open on September 1st.
The hotel will boast a huge 30-meter swimming pool, said to be the largest in Paris.
Office spaces and a daycare center round off the offerings of the new development.
LVMH, the new owner, has also installed green credentials in the new store, using renewable energy technology throughout, including a cutting-edge new air conditioning system. Eco-conscious methods were also used throughout the building’s renovation, something we discussed in this blog at the time.
Reopened June 22 by President Macron
French President, Emmanuel Macron and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo attended the opening ceremony. Such high-profile figures show how important this event is to the capital.
It officially opened its doors to the public the following day.
There are noticeably fewer tourists in Paris at the moment, but as travel opens back up once again, the store will fill with shoppers.
They say some things are worth the wait. Only time will tell if this is the case with the Paris Samaritaine reopening.
But this icon has a special place in the hearts of Parisians, and this new mix of old-world French glamour and modern shopping is almost guaranteed to impress.
56Paris, here for you
La Samaritaine is close to tourist magnets like Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Louvre. We expect the buzz around the store opening to have a positive effect on real estate in the surrounding areas. The neighborhood offers unique properties such as this stunning rental off the rue Montorgeuil.
If you have any questions about the property market here in the French capital, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at 56Paris. We are on hand to offer free, no-obligation advice.
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