My wife read about an old Paris department store that has been converted into a shop for all things for the home. Unfortunately she can not remember where she read the article or the name of the store. So, I'm hoping someone here will be able to help. Thanks!

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/ind...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=Ar...&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!