Just got back from Paris. Wanted to mention that La Samaritaine department store is closed indefinitely. Our hotel clerk said it needs to be updated. Yet another person told us that it probably will never reopen. But, for now it is closed. So no shopping, no views from the top.

It's been closed a long time, and it's been discussed on here quite a bit, also, as I recall. There are lots of dept. stores where you can shop in Paris, so I don't think it's any great loss in that regard. I never cared for it as a shopping destination myself, I prefer other stores.

Other than Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps, are there other big stores people like to shop in in Paris? Where do the locals go?

If I need to buy anything from clothes to hardware, electronics, tools etc I always go to the BHV dept. stores. The prices are much lower than Printemps or Galleries Lafayette etc. BHV is like Sears only much better. They have a store on Rue de Rivoli between Hotel de Ville and the start of the Marais destrict.

Larry J

I had a great time shopping in La Samaritaine with my sister in February 2002. I still remembered the kindest, nicest lady that helped us pick a great fragrance for our Mom. The prices were very reasonable. When we returned in November 2003, the prices had gone sky high. I also recalled having some drinks at the top floor cafe. It has to be back; great location, great views, great tradition (the Christmas window displays were enchanting).

Kwren-- as far as shopping in Paris, there are hundreds of recs already posted in this forum. I took my niece to Paris and hence, had to be prepared to shop, so this are some recommendations from the notes I took during that trip (2003):

-Rue Alesia or Rue St Placide going east from Bon Marche are streets full of clothing boutiques and discount designer or outlet shops.

-Au Bon Marche is another popular department store. watch for the great July sales when they have great prices on the accessories department and handbags (nice bags!!).

Have fun!!

Bon Marche, Metro Sevres Bablyon, is the "good address" in department stores among the French.

Another vote for Bon Marche. It's much quieter than GL or AP, but with excellent merchandise.

What about department stores for the 'average' shopper, ie. 'affordable' merchandise/clothing? Bon Marché seemed to be fully designer/high-end wares, very expensive.

What are the 'malls' like - ie. Place d'Italie, Saisons de Quatre at Defense...

Travelnut, you can always try Tati on or right off the Place de la République.

Well, I've read that Tati is one step up from 'flea market'(ie. jumbled piles of clothes) and geared for the young crowd, but I haven't been in one. Is that off the mark?

I'm talking about the Belk/Dillards/JC Penney level (ie. somewhere between Walmart and Neiman-Marcus).

I found Bon Marche's prices much higher than those at Galeries Lafayette's, Au Printemps, and La Samaritaine's.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they just restore the three buildings for La Samaritaine. They turned one into one of those teen mega clothing stores and there is a Sephora in the lower level of the other building with the main La Samaritaine building in the middle. All restored in the past few years? I am another Bon Marche person. Although I love BHV's lower level for houseware fixtures. To quote my friend, "You went all the way to Paris to buy a coat hook?" Not a coat hook, a Parisian coat hook!

The buildings might have been redecorated but since then, they were declared structurally unsafe.

Travelnut--You might try Monoprix with several locations in Paris. Seemed close to Penney's level to me with some nice French touches like take away foods.

Yes, a nearby Monoprix is a staple of our visits; one of the factors I use when hunting for hotels.

The new owners of La Samaritaine tried to turn it into a very posh, expensive, and upscale department store instead of the more ordinary Sears-like store it had previously been. Their attempt apparently did not succeed. The estimate of six or seven years just to bring the building back into conformance with the fire code is considered suspect by many, and some speculate that the owner wants to turn the store into something else, such as a posh, upscale, expensive mall, or a posh, upscale, expensive hotel.

As for malls in Paris, they are rather grim compared to their American counterparts for the most part, although they can still be interesting. The one that seems the most American is La Vallée near Disneyland Resort. Many of the malls are two-level malls with many stores, but they lack the fit and finish and energy of American malls.

Some of the traditional shopping galleries in Paris can be more interesting, as they retain the atmosphere of the city. The newer malls lose the atmosphere and yet do not gain the advantages of American-style malls, and they are often mysteriously quiet (I wonder how some of them stay in business).

Another vote for Bon Marche - much quieter and less frenetic than Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, and I don't think the prices are much different.