Paris1972-Versailles2003

Well here is one that escaped me , and one I walked by every day for 9+ yrs! and shopped many times! Oh well wrote about the other one nearby but somehow left this one out of one post. I have mentioned in brief moments in other posts but not stand alone which it deserves. I like to tell you a bit more on the grand magasin Au Printemps dept store of Paris, part I !!!  Hope you enjoy the post as I.

Au Printemps Paris perpetuates, over the seasons, its vision of essential luxury at low prices. Au Printemps is a department store that mainly focuses on fashion, luxury and beauty brands. The flagship store is located on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9éme arrondissement of Paris. In 2013, Au Printemps was bought by Disa, an investment fund with Qatari capital. The brand has 17 own stores in France and the United States and 4 others which are affiliated structures in France and Qatar. The group also has nine Citadium stores ,and operates 4 e-commerce sites. The flagship store and the one I passed by many many times was Au Printemps Haussmann ; open Mondays to Saturdays  11h to 20h, Sunday 11h to 19h . Metro Havre-Caumartin lines 3 and 9 closes bus line is the 43 on rue du Havre and 32/66 on bd Haussmann.

A bit of history I like tell us that Au Printemps was created on May 11, 1865, by Jules Jaluzot and Jean-Alfred Duclos in the Chaussée-d’Antin neighborhood of the 9éme district. This location also benefits from the proximity of the Gare Saint-Lazare train station. Thus Au Printemps moved to the corner of rue du Havre and boulevard Haussmann. The first years of Au Printemps saw the store shine throughout France and then abroad. The Universal Exhibitions of 1867 and 1878 contributed to this recognition. In 1883, Au Printemps was the first public place fully equipped with an electric lighting system. On the mezzanine, the customer can also admire the electrical factory behind a glass wall.

In 1904 announced the construction of a second store which is the current Printemps Haussmann store better known as Printemps de la Femme (woman store),on the even numbered side of Boulevard Haussmann. The first stone was laid in May 1907 and the new store was inaugurated in April 1910. It is dominated by a dome which illuminates a large hall 42 meters high, and also includes a central staircase with four Art Nouveau-inspired revolutions. The ceilings are by painter Marcel-Pierre Ruty. The store on rue du Havre is raised two floors and topped by a panoramic terrace in 1963. Testimony to the splendor of Au Printemps in the years 1910-1920, the dome on the 6th floor of Printemps de la Femme, built in 1910 by the master glassmaker Brière recalls the masterful decor of the Au Printemps of  yesteryear.

In 1912, Au Printemps opened a store for the first time in the provinces, in Deauville. At the beginning of the 1930s, Au Printemps had three stores. Since 1921, a warehouse has been transformed into a sales area which in 1930 becomes Brummell, the store of the elegant man.   In 1931, a new concept arrived from the United States: the single price for everyday consumer products. Au Printemps then opened a new company, Prisunic,(eventually closed in 2013, but I got to buy here too), which was responsible for selling inexpensive everyday products.

In 1977,new activities were developed or strengthened such as food (Disco), clothing (Armand Thiery still my fav store today) and mail order (La Redoute). In the 1980s, Au Printemps department stores opened up to the world, inviting their customers to various thematic and cultural exhibitions. The store opens branches as far as Japan (later sold) ,Istanbul, Jeddah, Dubai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. François Pinault acquired the Au Printemps group in 1991, then merged his own group with Au Printemps, which then took the name of Pinault-Printemps, made up of brands such as Conforama (furniture/electronics), Prisunic (again closed in 2013), La Redoute, then in 1994, Fnac (now merge with another group Darty). Au Printemps therefore focused on five strong universes: Beauty, Lifestyle, Fashion, Accessories and Men. The Parisian store Brummell, specializing in men’s clothing, was renovated and became Le Printemps de l’Homme (Mens store) in September 1999. The 2000s saw an increase in activities, with the opening of the Au Printemps Design store at the Centre Georges-Pompidou. In May 2019, the Au Printemps group announces the opening of its first store abroad for 2021. It will be located in Doha, the capital of Qatar, the country of the group’s new owners since 2013. With 20 Printemps stores in France, including 4 affiliates, and its e-commerce site – Printemps.com , Printemps has established itself today as a key omnichannel player, distributing more than 3,000 brands.

The official Printemps stores: https://www.printemps.com/fr/fr

The official Au Printemps on the bd Haussmann store: https://www.printempsfrance.com/magasins/paris-haussmann

The official Groupe Printemps with their brands: https://www.groupe-printemps.com/enseignes

And now I feel better credited in my blog. I always got an inspiration walking out of gare St Lazare and walking past it to cross Haussmann on my way to work! A sublime experience that will always remember, did for over 9 years !!! And of course, sneak in once in a while for some serious shopping, many times to take back to my boys a garment. However, with the family was more in the store at Parly 2 in Les Chesnay (now the town call Chesnay–Rocquencourt) (see post) as my boys went to school in the town which is across the street from Versailles where we lived.

Let add this section , of the many visited in my years visiting and living in France, these are the ones have the most nostalgia of visiting and shopping :

The Printemps Haussmann ,(Paris) ,an authentic masterpiece of architecture from the end of the 19C and the beginning of the 20C, Printemps Haussmann is the most beautiful Parisian structure dedicated to commerce. Covering nearly 50,000 m², the Group’s flagship brings together the most beautiful fashion, luxury and beauty brands, exclusive concepts (La Sneaker, L’Endroit, etc.) as well as tailor-made services to offer an exceptional shopping experience on 45,000 m² over 3 buildings and more than 1,000 brands !

The Printemps Nation (Paris), inaugurated in 1964, the department store in eastern Paris. Completely renovated in 2017, Printemps Nation aims to become the shopping destination for all generations with the arrival of Citadium, Uniqlo and Maisons du Monde. To develop the attractiveness of the store, Printemps relies on modern architecture and a refined design with pop colors, but above all on the implementation of exclusive concepts and the selective presence of more than 440 brands. With more than 10,000 m² on 7 levels !

The Printemps Parly 2 (my closest and most often Yvelines 78) Opened in 1969, is the benchmark luxury flagship in western Paris. It was the first department store to set up in one of the very first shopping centers in France. Renovated in 2010, in a modern and bright Haussmann spirit, it offers visitors all the expertise of Printemps with a demanding choice of nearly 600 brands, tailor-made services and unique shopping concepts with 10,450 m² on 3 levels

The Printemps Vélizy 2 (Yvelines 78) opened in 1972, and is the high-end department store in the 2nd largest shopping center in France in terms of turnover. The nearby urban area is undergoing rapid change, an opportunity for the store to carry out beautification work to improve the customer journey and review the offer. Renovated for the first time in 2008, the store offers visitors all the expertise of Printemps with the most beautiful brands, exclusive concepts and tailor-made services. With 10,481 m² on 2 levels and more than 370 brands

There you go folks, a must to visit , a wonderful historical and wonderful store for all to see.  This post brings back many nice family memories of always. You too will be enchanted by this dept store of my eternal Paris. Again, hope you enjoy the post on Au Printemps of Paris, part I !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!