On the banks of the Seine in Paris, five minutes from the Louvre, stands the Samaritaine department store.
The building was last renovated at a cost of 750 million euros. The interior is wood-paneled, there is a VIP area. The assortment consists of Dior, Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton. Shoes cost 1,000 euros.
Champagne bottles can be personalized, perfume bottles displayed under glass can be bought for six figures. The luxury goods business continues to grow, even in the pandemic.
The Samaritaine attracts people. People stroll through and admire the exhibits like the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. People want to see it like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. One marvels. The owner Bernard Arnault, the richest European, has gathered all the noble brands in his fairy-tale castle.
The Samaritaine resembles the soccer team of Paris Saint-Germain.