This is the second post in a series about 3 Parisian retail establishments. The first post is on La Samaritaine, a reborn “grand magasin”.
Merci is a lifestyle concept store located at 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris 3, at the edge of Le Marais (Haute Marais). Upon entering, you’ll find a charming paved courtyard featuring an iconic red Fiat 500. This thoughtfully designed store is meant to be a retail destination in the neighborhood.
Browse our post with music from Aya Nakamura as featured in the opening of the Olympics.
Merci opened its doors in March 2009, founded by Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, the creators of the children’s clothing brand Bonpoint, which they sold in 2007. In 2013, the store was acquired by the Gerbi family.
The multi-brand, multi-category store occupies an entire 19th-century building formerly used by a maker of furnishing fabrics and wallpapers, which was renovated to preserve its original industrial charm while creating a modern, inviting retail environment.
Merci carries a carefully-curated collection of stylish home and fashion merchandises as well as cosmetics and books. It is essentially a small department store with very few departments.
The store carries a range of women’s and men’s apparel from both established brands and emerging designers.
The store proclaims its concept online that the “up-to-the-minute store scrutinises current attitudes and urban trends with an anthropologist’s eye and questions the way we live now. … The store is constantly fine-tuning its selections, highlighting trends to reflect its set of beliefs.”
Affirming its philosophy as that of a concept store, “The store is run with strong editorial influences, just like a magazine. It presents a view of society – almost a manifesto – which reflects what it cares about. Merci filters out “the coordinated outfit, one-size-fits-all décor and beauty without utility.”
Merci respects handmade objects and small producers with references to popular culture. It tries to combat “a uniform idea of luxury which is imposed upon us – one that is often ostentatious and lacking in emotion”. It prefers a distinctly eclectic style.
Merci frequently collaborates with designers, artists, and brands to create exclusive and limited-edition products. These collaborations can include anything from unique clothing lines to special home decor pieces, adding an element of exclusivity and excitement to the store’s offerings.
Merci’s idea of luxury is personal luxury which can be found in the beautiful details of everyday life that is lived with “all its flaws and moments of transcendence” – the kind of luxury that can’t be described on mood boards. The store seeks authenticity of this concept by the unexpected pairing of opposites in a person’s life: vintage and modern, handcrafted and mass-produced, expensive and inexpensive.
The three shop floors are connected by stairs and there is a narrow atrium space so that the other levels are visible. The layout is meant to evoke the feel of a large house and thus does not provide a clear path for shoppers, while it encourages lingering.
Interestingly, from its founding, the profits from Merci are dedicated to a charitable endowment fund that supports educational projects and initiatives for underprivileged women and children in Madagascar.
The store was crowded and the Used Book Cafe which serves classic Parisian bistro dishes was full. I (Chris) wished we had time to peruse the used books which lined the wall.
Merci is not the first or the most recognized concept store. Colette (1997-2017) on Rue Saint-Honoré was the most iconic concept store known for mixing high fashion, streetwear, art, and lifestyle products.
Merci’s digital presence is maintained through a well-designed e-commerce website – here, and active social media accounts.
We hope you find Merci to be an intriguing contrast to La Samaritaine, which we shared in our previous post. While both Parisian establishments cater to discerning clientele, they differ significantly in their approach to luxury, brand representation, and charitable initiatives. At Merci, you’ll experience a unique blend of chic high-end designer offerings and a commitment to social responsibility, setting it apart from the more traditional, glamorous luxury experience of La Samaritaine and its corporate owner LVMH.