The Rebirth of La Samaritaine, an Iconic Parisian Department Store

When news hit in 2005 that one of Paris’ historic department stores was closing down, locals reacted with understandable sadness and dismay.

After all, since 1869, La Samaritaine– with its boldly-lettered Art Nouveau facade looming over the Seine River and the Pont Neuf bridge– had been a reliable fixture in the city landscape. No, that’s understating things. It was an iconic one.

But due to major building safety concerns and some dubious business decisions, the nineteenth-century store so dear to many Parisians closed its doors in 2005.

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At first, it was semi-eulogized. Would it be razed to the ground and give way to some sleek 21st-century mall or high-end hotel? Quelle horreur.

Luxury-goods behemoth LVMH wholly acquired the site in 2010, driving fears that its fate might be just that. This struck some as rather ironic, since the Samaritaine had never been a store catering to the very-wealthy.

It opened its doors at the dawn of a new industrial era that saw the price of consumer goods drop, and “fineries” become accessible to larger tranches of the population.

It was, according to social historians, a store targeting the growing working and middle classes of the nineteenth century.

The department store was often aspirational for its customers, to be sure. But unlike its posher Parisian counterparts, Le Bon Marché and Galeries Lafayette, it tended to serve a more modest clientele.

Now that it had been taken over by the owners of Louis Vuitton and countless other high-end brands, would it be remade in the image of the luxury industry– and thus become out of reach for the average citizen?

The answer is a bit complex. It turns out that LVMH gave in to a reigning local desire to preserve the historic building’s legacy. The fact that the building itself is a listed historic monument also helped keep the pressure on, no doubt.

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At the same time, it does seem safe to say that the historic department store has been reborn as an ultra-luxury hub in the city center.

The New Samaritaine: Excitement & Controversy

Fifteen years after its closure, La Samaritaine has risen from its proverbial ashes, re-opening in June 2021 after an extensive revamp– and significant delays due to the global pandemic that hit a year earlier.

The two buildings making up the site (called Pont Neuf and Rivoli, respectively) host a large department store of the same name, in line with its heritage. The shopping concept is decidedly luxury-focused, with a dizzying selection of designer brands and artisanal products, from women’s and men’s fashion and accessories to luxury beauty and perfumery, jewelry and watches, home design and gadgets. For those interested in fashion-forward style and trends, the Designer Lab at the Rivoli site should prove appealing.

The re-opening also saw the inauguration of a new palace hotel from the 5-star Cheval Blanc group on its premises, significantly upping the high-luxe ante. There’s also a Cinq Mondes spa, personal shopping services in a swanky space called “L’Appartement”, beauty studio, concierge and other high-end services. Finally, you’ll find a selection of formal restaurants and casual dining options onsite (see below).

{More info on navigating the new store and its departments: You can see a complete guide to the department store, its layout, current brands and services at the official website. You can also download and save or print a store guide in English at this page.}

The redesign was awarded to Japanese architectural firm Sanaa, whose renovation efforts aim to blend the building’s historic art nouveau and art deco elements with contemporary features and touches.

The original building is incorporated in the design, with the grand staircase and breathtaking glass-topped atrium, or “Verrière“, restored to their former glory. The iconic facade has also been brought back to life, thanks to the efforts.

Dining & Restaurants

There are several dining options at the New Samaritaine, both formal and casual.

At the Pont-Neuf site, the Voyage restaurant offers semi-open seating under the magnificent glass rooftop, and you can admire the restored murals and decor from your seat. Chefs with Michelin-starred credentials offer seasonal menus and an extensve wine menu. Reservations are recommended.

Across the way at the Rivoli site, Ernest is a bakery and casual eatery with a more formal upstairs restaurant serving typical French bistrot fare and continental cuisine. I dined there in 2021, and found the lunch menu to offer decent quality for money. The food wasn’t remarkable, but it was flavorful and fresh, and the service was friendly and quick.

Downstairs, the Ernest bakery and patisserie with bread and other creations from famed baker Eric Kayser offers a variety of sandwiches, snacks and sweet creations.

For a full list of restaurants, eateries and dining options at the Samaritaine, see this page.

The Road to Local Acceptance

Given how knee-jerk Parisian conservatism tends to give way to openness and excitement towards the new, I suspect that the city’s denizens will soon wholly embrace “La Nouvelle Samaritaine” as a welcome return.

After all, both the Eiffel Tower and the Centre Georges Pompidou were initially the subject of much hand-wringing and, well, open loathing when they were first unveiled.

Now they’re so accepted that they’re almost seen as a “natural” part of the urban landscape.

While not everyone– or even most– will be able to afford much of what’s on offer inside, a stroll inside to admire the architecture and browse the store’s seemingly endless departments is free, and can be intoxicating. And grabbing a pastry and coffee at one of the store’s more casual eateries or bakeries is still largely accessible– a treat worth having.

A Brief History of La Samaritaine: & Why to Visit

The original Sanaritaine store was opened by business magnate Ernest Cognacq in 1870, and designed by architects Frantz Jourdain and Henri Sauvage.

Many of the building’s iconic Art Nouveau and Art-Deco style elements– from the elaborate painted lettering, floral motifs and glass elements gracing the facade to the airy glass atrium held together with metal beams– only appeared during early-20th century expansions and redesigns.

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The store quickly became popular among Parisians for its slogan, “On trouve tout à la Samaritaine” (One can find everything at La Samaritaine“.

It drew status-conscious passers-by in with its glamorous promise of fineries sold at relatively reasonable prices.

By the 20th century, there were 11 stores and a “luxury” branch that has since closed.

Even today, there’s something about standing on the Pont-Neuf at sunset and taking in the facade, which seems to glow and reflects the light and water.

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It’s an easy stop after visiting nearby monuments and attractions such as the Louvre, and can be an excellent stop on a self-guided tour of Paris’ most-beautiful bridges.

Location & Getting There

La Samaritaine is located on the right bank of the Seine, in close reach of the Paris city center and facing the historic Pont Neuf bridge– one of the loveliest in the city.

The closest Metro station is Pont Neuf, but you can also exit at the Chatelet station (a major hub) and walk for about five to ten minutes.

• Address: 19 Rue de la Monnaie, 75001 Paris (1st arrondissement)
• Metro: Pont Neuf (Line 7) or Chatelet-Les-Halles (Lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14)
• Tel: +33 1 56 81 28 40

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