- Printemps, a French department store, is opening a location in New York City.
- I got a sneak peek at its FiDi store, which has marketed itself as “not a department store.”
- The store is ideal for luxury shoppers, but I’d also head there for a drink or dinner.
In the years since e-commerce became a go-to for shoppers, traditional brick-and-mortar stores have been trying to figure out how to make their retail experiences tempting enough to get customers to leave their homes.
Printemps, the famed French department store, thinks it may have cracked the code with its new concept store in New York City.
I toured the 55,000-square-foot space in the Financial District ahead of its grand opening on Friday, getting an early look at the retailer that features not only shopping but two bars, a café, and a restaurant. It’s almost like a cross between a mall and a private members’ club, except it’s open to the public.
I see its appeal as a shopping destination, but I think Printemps works even better as a date-night spot.
A Parisian department store in New York City
Printemps, which means spring in French, has been a staple in the French luxury shopping scene since it opened its first store in Paris in 1865. It’s like France’s version of Bergdorf Goodman, though with a slightly older history. Today, there are over a dozen Printemps locations in France and an international storefront in Doha, Qatar.
Now, Printemps is opening its New York store at One Wall Street in the city’s Financial District. In 2023, former offices in the tower’s two buildings were converted into high-end condos.
The Financial District might not be the first area in the city New Yorkers associate with high-end shopping. Still, with additions like the Oculus and its proximity to Wall Street, Printemps can help grow the retail experience in the area.
One Wall Street is also home to a New York landmark, the Red Room, which is known for its mosaic architecture created by Hildreth Meière. Printemps spotlighted the room’s original design in its renovation, playing up the intricate mosaics with massive floral lamps. There’s also a Red Room Bar, which sits just outside the historic space.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked into Printemps, but it wasn’t the explosion of color and texture that greeted me. During my tour, a company representative told me that the space, designed by the Printemps team and architect Laura Gonzalez, was created so customers could spend an entire day there, giving them a place that offered a reprieve from our screen-centered world.
Printemps is divided into separate rooms, each with a playful name and a distinct vibe. The aesthetics can also be changed as new merchandise arrives.
During my tour, the first-floor Playroom had casual attire and an on-site café, the Boudoir featured high-end and vintage gowns, and the Salle de Bain was like a mini salon, designed so customers could pop in for a blowout or makeover mid-shop.
My favorite retail space was the Salon, which features women’s ready-to-wear attire, an atelier that will tailor clothing for you as needed, and Salon Vert, a raw bar that offers views of the street below. As soon as I saw the space, I wanted to plop down in one of the pink bar chairs and sip on a glass of wine overlooking the street.
I loved that the clothing displays and dressing rooms were integrated throughout the store, making fashion part of the decor.
For instance, dressing rooms sit in the center of the Boudoir in circular domes, so customers don’t have to walk out of the space to try on their clothes. Likewise, birdcage-style displays sit in the salon, and you can walk inside them to check out clothing.
It felt fun to wander through them, and I could easily imagine the cages being turned into stops on a runway if Printemps ever hosted a fashion show in New York. During my tour, the company said it was eager to become an events space.
Printemps is also betting on its service to draw in customers, particularly those living in One Wall Street. For example, my tour guide mentioned that if you pop in to buy something ahead of an event and want to wear it out of the store, staff will happily ship the clothing you wore into Printemps home to you.
The old-school style service you’d expect from a vintage department store seems savvy for a retailer trying to stand out.
A new date-night spot in the city
Overall, Printemps offers a chic spot for shopping and dining in FiDi.
The store isn’t huge, though, so if it becomes a popular spot in the neighborhood, it could feel overly crowded on a busy Saturday.
The decor and atmosphere also feel approachable. However, Printemps is still a luxury retailer — a glance at the brand’s website shows an array of high-end designers, from Loewe to Givenchy — so I can’t foresee it becoming my go-to place to shop. But I can easily picture myself returning to enjoy its ambiance.
As I wandered through the store, I repeatedly thought Salon Vert would be a fun first-date spot for people who work or live in FiDi.
The combination of the decor and views outside felt romantic but relaxed, which was my favorite vibe for a first date before I met my husband. It’s also close to so many offices that it would be easy for people working in the area to pop over for a post-work drink.
Plus, if your date is going well, you could wander over to the Red Room Bar or stay for dinner at Printemps’ fine-dining restaurant, Maison Passerelle, which will open later this year.
I could also see myself having fun there with my friends, visiting The Beauty Corridor to stock up on makeup and skincare before returning to Salon Vert for a drink.
Whether you want to shop there or not, Printemps will be worth visiting for people passing through the Financial District.
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