Louis Vuitton’s Mall For The ‘Super-Rich’ Is Opening Its Doors After 16 Years
Image via Nadiia_foto / Shutterstock.com
While most people would flock to the nearby Louvre, a US$1 billion-plus shopping wonderland might just be the place to fix withdrawals of high rollers.
After 16 long-drawn-out years, LVMH’s shopping heart billed for “the super-rich” will soon be ready. La Samaritaine will host items from “more than 600 brands” as part of a partnership with duty-free retailer DFS, as well as house a Christian Dior spa, luxurious apartments and restaurants, and a five-star hotel with nightly rates exceeding US$1,270, per The Fashion Law and Bloomberg.
This comes after a tumultuous line of affairs spanning nearly two decades, with the pandemic only slightly nudging its opening further into the future.
Louis Vuitton owner Bernard Arnault acquired La Samaritaine back in 2001, but the complex was forced to close in 2005 due to a failure to meet building safety codes relating to the steel and glass of its main outpost. “Hundreds of employees” participated in sit-ins over concerns that LVMH would “close the store for good.”
As the building hibernated, LVMH had intended for La Samaritaine to attract “several millions of visitors per year” when it opened. This vision will likely need adjustment, as Bloomberg reports that the conglomerate had set its sights on drawing international tourists.
The revamped complex will pay homage to the building’s original Art Nouveau design, sans the safety risks. It will feature glass tiles, but with a layer of concrete below, to prevent breakage.
At long last, there’s now an expected opening date for the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton shopping haven. DFS has announced that La Samaritaine will greet its first shoppers in 16 years on June 19.
[via The Fashion Law and DFS, images via various sources]
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