Merci

It's a flower and garden shop. No, it's a used book shop and cozy cafe. No, it's a designer vintage clothing shop. No, it's an Annick Goutal perfume bar where you fill your own bottle with your favorite fragrance or create your own. No, it's fabric shop. No, it's a kids clothing shop. No, a it's furniture emporium with eclectic, one of a kind pieces. No, it's a basement filled with inventive and useful housewares. No, it's a clothing boutique with exclusive pieces by top designers at 40% off. No, it's a charity organization/store that gives money to build schools in Madagascar.

Yes, the new store Merci is all of these.

Merci is the brainchild of Marie and Bernard Cohen, the owners of Bonpoint, the hugely successful, pricey children's clothing line. They came up with the idea of mixing their love of fashion with giving something back to the community and have created a mega concept store to end all concept stores. The massive, warehouse-like space on the edge of the Marais is three floors with over 15,000 square feet.

I spent over an hour admiring almost every inch of this original shop and it's one of those rare places that I wished I could have one of everything. It's not so much that anything was so innovative or new, it was the clever merchandising and displays that made everything so appealing.

Since discovering the shop right after they opened about six weeks ago, it's been a new must-see stop on my Marais tours. My clients have been saying Merci,Richard! for showing us the coolest store in Paris.

Merci
111 Blvd. Beaumarchais, 3d arr.
Metro: St. Sebastien-Froissart or Chemin Vert
Tel. 01.42.77.00.33
Open 10AM-8PM, Monday to Saturday

Eye Prefer Paris Eiffel Tower Contest

I am looking for the most unusual and unique personal photo of the Eiffel Tower. The winner will receive a copy of Eiffel's Tower by Jill Jonnes. Contest deadline is next Wednesday, May 13 and I will announce the winner on Thursday, May 14. So get out your best photos and please email me them to me at [email protected]. Please size horizontal photos 6" and vertical photos also 6" and don't send more than 3 photos in one email.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[anne]

This is the very shop I tried to find after my brother read about it in one of our uk papers..

It is on my list of to see when we return....!!!

[anne]

sorry put wrong link up....
http://anne-arnott.blogspot.com/

[Melissa]

I totally agree, Richard!! I am OBSESSED with it. I keep lurking right before closing, my fantasy is to get locked in there for the night and pretend it's my home!!

[Claudia]

Comme c’est incroyable! Cette boutique est fabuleuse ! Great piece today, Richard !!

[ModernMom]

What a fab store. Glad I had the chance to check out your blog!