Need the name of old Paris Department store converted into a shop for things for the home

la Samaritaine? : sorry I'm not from Paris, I can't tell you more...

This could be the Galaries Lafayette.
Here's an old newsletter I have quoting from expat.
"The founders opened the initial store in 1893 at the corner of the rue Lafayette and boulevard Haussmann, the second generation added the store with the overhead glass cupola, which is now the main one, in 1912, and the third generation opened the Lafayette men's shop in 1969."

"The fourth generation will open Lafayette Maison in 2004," he said. Already reckoned to be the world's biggest department store, the new branch will give the Haussmann outlet a total 66,000 square metres of floor space — 46,000 for the main "cupola" shop, 10,000 for Lafayette Homme and 10,000 for Lafayette Maison.

1855 : Les Magasins du Louvre (rue de Rivoli)
1856 : Le Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville (près de l’Hôtel de Ville)BHV now
1865 : Le Printemps (quartier de l’Opéra)
1869 : La Samaritaine (au Pont Neuf)
1895 : Les Galeries Lafayette (quartier de l’Opéra)

merci google

Marks and Spencer across the street from Galeries Lafayette was closed and converted into the home shop. Great store.

Does it have a name, JS?

It's Lafayette Maison.

My French isn't all that good, but shouldn't it be Maison Lafayette?

travelx2, here's an article highlighting Lafayette Maison that your wife might enjoy. We went at Christmastime and got really unique holiday decorations and candles. I'm not normally a shopper but this store was wonderful. Enjoy.

http://tinyurl.com/72t8q

Here's the link to Lafayette Maison from Galeries Lafayette's website (it's in French):

http://www.galerieslafayette.com/index.do?f=univers_maison

Perhaps they thought it would sound more hip this way.

Thanks, I think the store my wife is thinking of is the one jsmith is refering to. Thanks for all the info, we'll probably stop by several.

Great but Marks and Spencer is not old.

This is what you are looking for!

http://parisvoice.com/?fuseaction=Article.Article&A=124&cat_id=49

Sorry hit reply too son.from the article!

Lafayette Maison

A freshly-launched fashion temple has been erected in the capital of style. However, in this emporium you won’t find clothes, shoes or cosmetics. Quite the contrary. What was once the somewhat dowdy Paris branch of British food and clothing chain “Marks & Sparks” has been revamped and transformed into the Galeries Lafayette’s new millennium “fashion store for the home,” named... “Lafayette Maison.”

Forget Louis-the-something stodgy furniture and boring bourgeois place settings, this department store is dedicated to the latest trends in home furnishings, no matter what your tastes or sources of inspiration. Sprawled over 10 000 square meters of space on four flevels are more than 100 designer brands.

Jody, you are the intrepid investigator! Until I saw your reply, I was thinking the Bon Marché.

Ira, the way I read it, it would be Maison Lafayette if it was like champagne and would mean something like "House of Lafayette". Lafayette Maison is more like "Lafayette for the home".

Hi Ira, Nikki explained it perfectly well!
have a nice day!

Not that much of an investigator..I just remembered reading about it in ParisVoice, Beatchick

You ought to check out ParisVoice..lots of good articles on Paris every month!

Thanks all.

I will do that, Jody - thanks for the tip!

jody,
I too saw the article in ParisVoice. If only we had our new home bought already when we were in Paris in March!

http://parisvoice.com/?fuseaction=Article.Article&A=124&cat_id=49

This thread is too funny. The Paris Voice article is what I linked via the tiny url. I hope travelx2's wife has a good time shopping.

mvor, haven't you learned that a stamp of approval must be given by the grand ladies before it's official.

cigalechanta, M&S may not be old from your perspective but it was founded by Michael Marks in 1884 in Leeds and in 1894 he formed a partnership with Tom Spencer. Galeries Lafayette was founded in 1893.

I can think of two old department stores that died and changed into something else -- the Grands Magasins du Louvre became an antiques mall "Le Louvre des Antiquaires" and the Belle Jardinière got chopped up into a Conforama furniture store and a big Habitat store.

It's probably BHV - Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville. They have all the home supplies (such as the stuff you find at home depot), and the normal department store items such as stationary, clothes, etc... It's at the metro station Hotel de Ville (lines 1, and 11).

jsmith, if I didn't think that you were only joking, I would think that was a very snippy remark.
mvor, I posted a link to parisvoice which spoke of the Home store, but it is also a good source for other information, ..

Folks - BHV is mentioned and let me just say it is a home supply wonderland. This is the place you can buy real European door handle (I Hate knobs), kits to transfer your flat plain door into a fabulous french door ala moldings, escucheons (those little key hole surrounds), furniture knobs and handles and oh buy the ay bathroom accesories like you never ever dreamed of ..... measure EVERYTHING you own and all your walls and windows. Go to BHV with your credit card, This is not to be missed. Don't be afraid to ship things.... keep each package to a different name and under the legal tax free limit.... no reason to pay duty if you dont't have to....seafox

Seafox, I really like BHV also. A lot of the furniture in my house is from BHV. That's where I used to get my school supplies and stationary.

Thanks Transitbuddie - nice to be "confirmed". By the way I am a BIG C&A fan for clothing....especially winter coats

I thought this thread was funny because of the twists and turns that it took (typical of most threads here I guess) and because if I had posted the URL as:

http://parisvoice.com/?fuseaction=Article.Article&A=124&cat_id=49

instead of the tinyurl that I used that the information I was offering would have been a lot more clear.

I should have know better than to post on a shopping thread. Ach well, you live and learn.