In my rounds in Paris I came upon this building once again. I have written very briefly on it in previous post and deserves better indeed. Maybe because it is next to the city hall I have been here briefly over the years in Paris. However, back in my old home of Versailles we did went several times to its branch there at Parly II shopping center (see post). I like to update this older post on the wonderful BHV or Bazaar de l’Hôtel de Ville or city hall market bazaar…. It is more than that, very sophisticated as the other better known stores which have their posts in my blog as well. Therefore, here is my take on BHV, that other Parisian dept store !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I
It is indeed on a wonderful street rue de Rivoli right over the esplanade or parvis of the Paris‘ city hall; and with its great dome commands attention indeed. A Paris landmark to be visited. The Bazaar de l’Hôtel de Ville, operated by BHV Exploitation under the name BHV Marais since 2014. It is now part of the Groupe Galeries Lafayette since 1991. This establishment was at the origin of a chain of stores centered on the DIY do not count any more than a shop outside Paris at Le Chesnay Parly2 Yvelines dept 78), yes my shopping center of old! Abroad the group is based in Beirut, Beijing, Berlin, Dubai and Jakarta under various names.
The BHV Marais is organized in different sections such as :
In the basement: DIY; on the ground floor: jewelery, perfume, women’s fashion; on the first floor: women’s fashion and shoes; second floor: luggage, stationery, culture and creative hobbies; on the third floor: the culinary arts and 2 restaurants (Marlette and the Artisans de la Truffe); fourth floor: decoration and lighting; on the fifth floor: toys, children’s fashion, lingerie and restaurants; on the sixth and top floor: the bathroom, bedding and linens; a five-storey neighbor’s shop (rue de la Verrerie); a pet shop; a cycle shop; a floor carpet and parquet shop; and Eataly an Italian restaurants and groceries at rue du Temple.
The new BHV Marais in a few figures : 38,000 m2 of retail space spread over two main buildings ideally located in the heart of the Marais / 900 brands offering a selection of the best of Home, DIY, Creative Leisure and Fashion / 10.5 million annual visitors / 5 restaurants and 1 food court / 2,000 m2 of urban agriculture / 2 stores: Rivoli and Parly 2(Le Chesnay-Rocquecourt 78). The new areas are: On the fifth floor of the store, Les Tables Perchées and Table Hachée with a bistronomic menu offering inventive and gourmet cuisine. On the top floor, (this is to match the other store….) the bar Le Perchoir Marais welcomes the public in an idyllic setting in the heart of Paris. The green patio of the Parisian Omnivore District (POD), located in the courtyard of the BHV Marais L’Homme, also offers a range of world cuisine.
A bit of history I like tell us that the shopkeeper Xavier Ruel, arrived from Lyon, and began by selling some hosiery articles by hawkers, in large umbrellas. He notice that, even by turning the sellers, the best sales are always made at the corner of the Rue de Rivoli and rue des Deux-Portes-Saint-Jean (nowadays Rue des Archives). He decided, in 1856, to establish his store there. Xavier Ruel died in 1900, and his grandson Henri Viguier, took over the BHV. He completes the work of his grandfather , completing in 1912 , its famous rotunda and most of its modern structure. The store covers 1,300 meters of galleries built on 11 floors, it becomes one of the Parisian department stores of fashion. The BHV became a limited company in 1931 to its entry in the stock market in 1960. The BHV adopts all the innovations of the trade with in 1954,inaugurates a first elevator/lift and then, in 1971 , a public car parking with direct access to the store.
In 2007, the BHV Homme (Men’s) opens at rue du Temple. The main store focuses on women’s fashion, DIY, decoration and furniture. The basement is totally renovated and modernized. In 2013, the property is renovated again. It’s name is changed, becoming BHV Marais. The DIY (do it yourselves) shelving is kept in the basement. Above, two floors, instead of one, are allocated to women’s fashion. A new shoes area is created on the first floor. The sections furniture are removed to make more room for leisure and clothing. In 2016, after an agreement reached between the unions, the BHV became the first Parisian department store to open on Sunday.
Finally, after briefly in the Galeries Lafayette Group, The Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville (BHV) was finally ceded to the group Société des Grands Magasins (SGM).from Lyon,just this month Nov 2023. This sale, also, include the property i Partly II shopping center , Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt (Yvelines 78) .
Update on the BHV, the staff (884 employees) is worried (200 positions following departures have not been replaced). For a good ten years already the professionals know that the BHV suffers, On several occasions) as all those in this sector suffer from which the model is questioned by new consumption methods and online sales, The BHV Men will be closed in 2026 and the shelves with a reduced offer will be transferred on the 2nd floor of the main building. The unilateral decision of the mayor of Paris to pedestrinian in full pandemic of the covid ,the Rue de Rivoli has greatly penalized the department store. We only hope that the famous store, without convalescent context, finds a form which will allow it to shine again in our arrondissement because it is part of our heritage! According to the Marais-Louvre association-Defense and promotion of the living environment of the Paris Centre
The official BHV stores: https://www.bhv.fr/magasins
The Paris tourist office on BHV Marais: https://en.parisinfo.com/shopping-paris/73795/Le-BHV-Marais
And there you go folks, another Paris landmark to be visited and for your shopping pleasure of my eternal Paris. Hope you enjoy BHV Marais as the other, and do some serious shopping in Paris! Hopefully in the future . Again, hope you enjoy the post on BHV, that other Parisian dept store !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 