Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is the main location of French department store chain Galeries Lafayette. It is located on Boulevard Haussmann at the corner of Rue La Fayette in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, close to Chaussée d'Antin – La Fayette Paris Métro station.
Location | Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, France |
---|---|
Opening date | 1912[1] |
No. of floors | Five (home store), four (men's store), ten (main store) |
Website | galerieslafayette |
History
In 1893,Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn opened a 70-square-metre (750 sq ft) store in Paris, on the corner of rue La Fayette and rue de la Chaussée d’Antin, selling novelty gifts. In 1896, the company purchased the entire building at number 1, rue La Fayette followed in 1903 by numbers 38, 40, and 42 on Boulevard Haussmann, as well as number 15, rue de la Chaussée d’Antin.[2]
Architecture
Théophile Bader appointed the architect Georges Chedanne to head up the first major renovations which were completed in 1907. Ferdinand Chanut, Georges Chedanne's apprentice, designed the store's 43-metre (141 ft) high Neo Byzantine dome.[3] This store's inauguration ceremony took place in October 1912.
In 1932, the store was renovated with an Art Déco style by an architect named Pierre Patou.
Fashion and events
Théophile Bader acquired production facilities in order to make clothing exclusively for Galeries Lafayette under its own private label. He also manufactured affordable versions of designer wear.[4]
This store then expanded to include menswear, furniture, toys and tableware departments and get involved in organizing events such as the rooftop landing by French pilot Jules Védrines in 1919.[5]
In 1922, it opened arts workshops under the artistic direction of Maurice Dufrêne in order to produce affordable furniture, fabric, carpets, wallpaper, pottery, and other household goods.[6]
Following the Second World War, the store underwent a complete makeover.
During the 1950s it hosted large international exhibitions, such as “The Best of Italian Manufacturing” in 1953.
In the 1960s, young designers began launching their ready-to-wear lines at the store. The first designer to become famous was Laura, in 1962. A little while later she went on to become known as Sonia Rykiel.[7]
From 1980 to 1999 “Fashion Festivals”, were organized, in order to select designs for the store. In 1984, the store opened a designer department including designs from, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler.
From 2001 to 2015, Jean-Paul Goude collaborated with the brand on advertising campaigns in order to give the store a modern identity.[8]
Offer
Galerie Lafayette Paris Haussmann is a 70,000 m2 (750,000 sq ft) store. Mostly dedicated to fashion, it also has other offers and services.
Food
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann's food tasting bars offer French food together with produce from around the world.
Restaurants and bars
Cafés, bars and restaurants are located in the store for drinks and meals.
The rooftop has a bar, restaurant and terrace with a panoramic view of Paris and its monuments including the Eiffel Tower, the Montparnasse Tower, Invalides, and Opera Garnier.
Cultural space
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann's cultural space “Galerie des Galeries” holds three to four exhibitions a year, showcasing both French and international design.
Events
Every Friday visitors can attend the store's free fashion show at 3 pm. These events can only be attended if reservations have been made in advance.
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann has a suspended Christmas tree every year, the first of which was hung from the dome in 1976. The store also organizes a range of exhibitions and shows and during the festive period.
Services
English-speaking staff in the concierge area help with Wi-Fi access, tourist information, or restaurant and taxi reservations.[9]
The tourist information desk provides information and tickets for transport, museums, attraction parks, guided tours, cruises on the Seine River, cabaret performances, shows and concerts, hotels, and currency exchange.
The store's geolocation app helps shoppers find brands and access restaurants, customer service, and shop locations.
The tax refund service enables non-European residents to claim back their tax refund, based on the 12% tax they have paid on their purchases worth over €175.01 made on the day of purchase at Galeries Lafayette.[10]
A personal shopper is also available and VIP services include the ordering of limousines or package deliveries to hotels.[11]
The information office, located on the ground floor, provides information related to all the services offered by the store.
See also
- Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville
- Le Bon Marché
- Printemps Haussmann
Sources
- "History". Groupe Galeries Lafayette. Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
- Marzel, Shoshana-Rose (2006-11-01). "Théophile Bader, co-fondateur des Galeries Lafayette". Archives Juives (in French). 37 (2): 135–138. ISSN 0003-9837.
- filhol, Anne-Laure (2012-10-14). "La coupole des Galeries Lafayette fête ses 100 ans". Le Figaro (in French). ISSN 0182-5852. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- Marzel, Shoshana-Rose (2006-11-01). "Théophile Bader, co-fondateur des Galeries Lafayette". Archives Juives (in French). 37 (2): 135–138. ISSN 0003-9837.
- "Le 19 janvier 1919 dans le ciel : Jules Védrines se pose sur les Galeries Lafayette". Air Journal (in French). Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- "La Maîtrise des Galeries Lafayette (Catalogue 1925) - Librairie des Archives : livres d'art épuisés, catalogues raisonnés, catalogues d'expositions rares, beaux livres, xx siècle". www.librairiedesarchives.com (in French). Archived from the original on 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- "Sonia Rykiel (1930-2016), A Fashion Revolutionary, by Maude Bass-Krueger". Histoire de Mode (in French). Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- "Les Galeries Lafayette arrêtent leur collaboration avec Jean-Paul Goude". LExpress.fr (in French). 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- Paris, Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de. "Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann - Office de tourisme Paris". www.parisinfo.com (in French). Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- "About Galeries Lafayette". Official website for tourism in France. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- "Le shopping VIP du Printemps et des Galeries Lafayette". lesechos.fr. 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2017-06-14.