Wall Street Meets Chic: Printemps’ Debut NYC Store Adds Touch of ‘Joie de Vivre’ to the Nabe

French luxury retailer Printemps is now open at One Wall Street, and it is trés magnifique. Designed by the multi-awarded Parisian interior designer Laura Gonzalez, the nearly 55,000-square-foot space is a breathtaking addition to the neighborhood, successfully marrying sleek haute couture with playful whimsy, and using the historic building’s Art Deco touches to spectacular effect.

Printemps has a storied history in Paris; the flagship store opened in 1865 on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris’s ninth arrondissement, and now houses tons of curated luxury retail and beauty offerings in a massive 480,000-square-foot space. Printemps now operates multiple iterations in France (including two in Paris), as well as a location in Doha, Qatar. The new One Wall Street spot is the first location in the United States, and it does a nice job of balancing Parisian elegance with chic New York sensibilities. In fact, the design itself is intended to make New Yorkers feel particularly at home, wink wink.

“We thought, what if Printemps had a pied-a-terre in New York,” Laura Lendrum, CEO of Printemps America, told Fast Company. “So we kind of took that idea literally, and designed the store around the concept of an apartment.”

Indeed, the winding space is filled with plush couches, colorful art books, vibrant lamps and vases and floral wallpaper that would feel at home in a Vogue art director’s penthouse. Though Printemps says they’ll be expanding their retail offerings, for now there are a smattering of brands selling gorgeous duds fit for a range of budgets, with high-end designers as well as more accessible collections on tap (there’s a colorful Nike collection on the main floor, for instance). There’s also a pristine fragrance and beauty section, as well as an opulent Boudoir room with one-of-a-kind couture and high fine jewelry. 

Printemps offers more than just retail. On the main level, you’ll find Café Jalu, where you can grab casual fare like coffee and croissants. If you’d like to sip a little bubbly while you shop, there are a number of gorgeous bars positioned throughout the store where you can hang out and have a drink or even take a glass with you while you peruse the wares. For a true sit-down experience, you’ll find a stunning 25-seat cocktail lounge dubbed the Red Room Bar just outside of Maison Passerelle, the upcoming French Creole restaurant helmed by James Beard Award winner and two-time Top Chef finalist and native New Yorker Chef Gregory Gourdet. (Maison Passerelle opens later in April.) 

Speaking of the Red Room, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the landmarked Art Deco masterpiece. Designed by Hildreth Meiére, the former entrance to 1 Wall Street is a dazzling, double-height banking hall whose ceiling and walls sparkle in red, orange, bronze and gold mosaics, intended to mimic the rippling of a curtain.The Red Room was closed to the public for decades, but it now houses Printemps’ high-end shoe collection.  

Printemps also plans to host pop-ups, classes, readings and other community events, so stay tuned for upcoming announcements. In the meantime, be sure to stop by to wish it a hearty bienvenue!

photos: courtesy Printemps