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La Samaritaine, located on Rue de Rivolin, is one of the largest shopping centers in Paris, the fashion capital of France. It has undergone three renovations: the first between 1883 and 1933 by architect Frantz Jourdain in the Art Nouveau style; the second in 1933, when architect Henri Sauvage redesigned Samaritaine in the Art Deco style; and the final, an $894 million renovation by the French luxury group LVMH in collaboration with high-end retailer DFS, to rebuild Samaritaine after its closure in June 2005 for safety reasons.
After a 16-year absence from the people of Paris, La Samaritaine returns with a completely new look, becoming a complex of restaurants, hotels, and luxury shops belonging to 600 major and minor brands. LVMH has collaborated with many world-class design talents to bring back the former glory of La Samaritaine. The entire magnificent architecture of the building can be admired as soon as you enter the main lobby. The six-story staircase, adorned with over 16,000 gold leaf pieces in a soft, sky-blue hue, spirals upwards, creating a vast space like a soaring atrium, and sunlight filtering through the domed glass roof illuminates each floor of the Samaritaine, making one feel as if they are strolling along the boulevards of Paris.
"We've been preparing for this special adventure for a long time. I'm really happy to welcome our customers back and just want to enjoy every moment to the fullest," said Salim Benzemrane, a La Samaritaine employee.
The reopening of the Samaritaine was originally scheduled for 2020 to mark its 150th anniversary. However, after numerous postponements and cancellations due to Covid-19, this historic building finally reopened as France eased restrictions to revive its tourism industry. This also served as an incredible message to the world: that everything would return to its normal life after the pandemic.
Bernard Arnault, Chairman of LVMH, shared: "I am both delighted and proud to see La Samaritaine restored to its former splendor and iconic stature. La Samaritaine has a deeply intertwined history with the people of Paris, shaped by bold vision, prosperity, and solidarity. At this moment, a new chapter begins, and I know that the story will continue for a long time to come."
