a ride like no other
"Le soleil donne" - Laurent Voulzy
Dear readers,
I begin this letter with a big thank you to all your messages and welcome to all those who have just registered. You gave me a smile and some advice that I did not miss to note, rays of sunshine for me.
Speaking of sunshine, Laurent Voulzy reminds us that «The sun gives, even in Paris»! ☀️
As autumn sets in, in this 7th edition of its newsletter, Appuntamento offers you a sunny walk in the heart of Paris. Just a stone’s throw from the Palais Royal and Rue Saint-Honoré, we explore a crossroads where echoes of the past meet contemporary effervescence. There, four brands are unveiled, embodying the Parisian soul: a wise mix of history, tradition and modernity.
Discover with us the magic of “Legrand Filles et Fils”, the timeless brilliance of “Nain Bleu”, the creativity of “Brigitte Tanaka” and a mystery stopover to arouse your curiosity. Immerse yourself in the fascinating stories that have given life to these exceptional places.
Ready for your monthly dose of good mood à la parisienne? 🙃
With Love,
Daniela 💗
AT THE CROSSROADS OF GENERATIONS, THE ELIXIR OF A PASSION INHERITED
In 1880, the Beaugé family’s counter opened its doors, offering tea, coffee, chocolate and spices from the Compagnie des Indes. The growing prosperity of the family has enabled them to undertake modernization work, giving the shop its contemporary look.
After the tumultuous period of the Great War, the family business Beaugé was passed on to Alexandre and Pierre Legrand, twins from a family of grocers in the town of Issy-les-Moulineaux. They have enriched the trade by adding fine spirits, wine in barrels, groceries and coffee roasted on site. Alexandre took over the reins of the family business in Issy-les-Moulineaux, leaving Pierre to manage the shop located on rue de la Banque.
Lucien Legrand, succeeding his father Pierre, brought a real nobility to the profession of wine. Whereas previously wines were classified according to their alcohol content, without any real consideration for their origin, Lucien has been able to distinguish between the crus. He has been through the vineyards, met with the winemakers and made many discoveries. In his workshop, located at the back of the shop, he bottled the wines, each bottle with a label indicating the origin and vintage.
The AFP news agency, the Havas agency and les Halles were nearby , and this place was a meeting point for colleagues, a place to exchange and taste wines. Journalists began to talk about Legrand in their articles, and the word-of-mouth quickly allowed this winery to build a reputation that went beyond the boundaries of the neighborhood.
Lucien Legrand was the pioneer in promoting Beaujolais, wines from the Loire and many lesser-known crus that have now become classics, such as champagne Jacques Selosse, Bordeaux by François Mitjavile and Château Tertre-Rotebœuf.
Lucien’s daughter, Francine, succeeded him and continued the tradition before selling the business in 2000.
The Japanese-influenced Legrand Establishments: In 2013, a new chapter opened in the rich and complex history of Legrand Establishments. The house was acquired by Japanese group Nakashima, renowned for its dedication to quality, refinement and passion for tableware. Far from upsetting the very essence of Legrand, the Nakashima group has instead strengthened its commitment to preserving the heritage, tradition and know-how of this Parisian institution.
This shared love for wine and French gastronomy led the Nakashima group to open an office of Établissements Legrand in Tokyo, allowing the culture of French wine to spread even further. In Japan, the boutique is not only a reflection of the Parisian parent company with its selection of wines, but it also serves as a cultural bridge between France and Japan, combining the best of both worlds: French refinement and Japanese minutia. This way, the Legrand brand has been able to reach a wider and more diverse audience while remaining true to its essence and roots.
The bordeaux and gold façade still displays the old name «À Notre Dame des Victoires» on the pediment. At the entrance, the floor tiles bear the name of the founder, Beaugé. Crossing the threshold, we enter into history: the jars and shelves are original, time seems to have stopped . We cross what was the dining room of Legrand to reach the old reserve transformed into a wine library with a tasting counter to lead to the wonderful Vivienne gallery.
The key points to remember:
– An experience that blends history and heritage: The Legrand Filles et Fils, founded by the Beaugé family in 1880, has a rich history of passion and dedication to wines and local products. Passed from hand to hand over generations, it has managed to modernize while preserving the authenticity of its heritage, as evidenced by the bordeaux and gold facade, the tiles bearing the name of the founder, and the interior where time seems to have stopped.
What I like:
– Countless specialities from the terroir fill the shelves: vinegars of Banyuls or Burgundy, sardines from Brittany, rillettes of Vouvray, berlingots of Carpentras, nougatine of Nevers, anise of Flavigny… Centuries-old jars welcome marshmallows, roudoudous and other treats, while a thousand other temptations attract the eyes of gourmands: Maures’ honeys, Voiron’s chocolates, Dijon’s gingerbread, Nemours poppy syrup, Agen prunes, coffees from around the world.
– An entire wall is dedicated to bottles, for all tastes, all arrangements and all purses. The house constantly updates its selection from small regional wines to prestigious bottles.
LE NAIN BLEU RETURNS
Le Nain Bleu, an iconic toy brand founded in 1836, has seen a remarkable renaissance in the centre of Paris, at 14 rue Saint Roch, near its former iconic location on rue Saint Honoré. After a closure in the early part of the last decade, this heritage house was taken over three years ago by the Hong Kong group Kidsland, a major distributor of European toy brands in Asia.
The revival of the Blue Dwarf is marked by a reinterpretation of its traditional heritage while introducing a new vision of play adapted to the 21st century. The store of 65m2, divided into three sections, houses about 300 references of toys, giving preference to quality and tradition. It features stuffed animals, wooden toys, costumes, dolls, pedal cars and other iconic toys. Some of the costumes are made in the brand’s workshop at Maisons-Laffitte, including even models designed by Karl Lagerfeld.
Always in the spirit of innovation that characterized Georges Fauvet, the founder of the shop, the new incarnation of the Nain Bleu wants to be a “concierge shop”. It offers a constantly renewed assortment of high quality toys , with the ambition to introduce new products every month. This approach is part of the desire to preserve the brand’s unique and refined character, while adapting its offer to modern customer demands.
Valérie Touya, the president of Au Nain Bleu, is the engine of this renaissance. She re-established links with the brand’s historical suppliers such as Petitcollin, Jeujura, Jorelle, Histoire d’Ours, Kathe Kruze and Tirot, while establishing an online store to reach a wider audience. The online shop offers customers delicate wooden toys, beautiful costumes, dolls and their trousseau, charming birth gifts and a nice range of stuffed animals made in France. The products from French workshops, some of which are labelled Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, testify to the constant commitment of the brand in favour of quality .
Valérie Touya finally wants to develop corners Au Nain Bleu in the shops of Kidsland in Asia or in France with retail partners or in hotels, in order to perpetuate the heritage of this French institution.
With its return, Le Nain Bleu symbolizes magic, refinement and excellence, while bringing a very French touch to the world of toys.
The key points to remember:
– Le Nain Bleu, with its two-hundred year history, is an emblematic Parisian brand of high-end toys that has been able to reinvent itself while preserving its heritage. Recently revived by the Kidsland group, the brand offers a range of traditional and quality toys , largely made in France and carefully selected from renowned artisans.
– A physical presence at 14 rue Saint Roch and an online store, allow the brand to offer a unique customer experience. Le Nain Bleu is distinguished by its “concierge shop” model, offering a regular rotation of its collections presenting new products to customers.
What I like:
– The value I particularly appreciate at Le Nain Bleu is its unwavering commitment to quality, authenticity and renewal. I appreciate the way they have combined tradition and innovation, keeping the magic of a toy shop while adapting to modern requirements. Their selection of refined toys, often handmade and not found elsewhere, reflects their passion and dedication to their craft. In addition, their “concierge shop” offering and their online store, which allows for easy exploration of their toy treasures, demonstrate a deep understanding of the importance of modern customer experience. Finally, the vision of President Valérie Touya, who has been able to recover the magic of the unique selections of the old shop, is particularly inspiring. It is this passion for history and quality that makes the Le Nain Bleu experience an unforgettable adventure for guests of all ages.
WHEN BRIGITTE MEETS TANAKA
Brigitte Tanaka, nestled in the shadow of the Saint-Roch church in Paris, is much more than a simple shop. It is a unique fusion of French and Japanese culture, carried by the creative duo Miss Brigitte and Miss Tanaka. Their work revolves around the transformation of everyday objects into elegant and humorous fashion accessories, mixing the old and the modern. Their product range ranges from jewellery and clothing to decorative objects, all revisited with their distinctive signature. The shop, opened on the day of Brigitte’s birth, offers a range of traditional handmade items, divided into three categories: collaborations, selections and creations. With these, Brigitte Tanaka gives a second life to everyday objects of the last century, such as almanacs, cufflinks and medals, often personalized in their workshop on site. It is a place that exudes authenticity, originality and creativity, attracting all those who appreciate artisanal products with a soul and a history.
The key points to remember:
Brigitte Tanaka is a veritable Ali Baba cave of fashion and decoration, skillfully fusing the old and new, the East and the West. The customer experience is exceptional, with each visit revealing new discoveries and surprises. The store concept is unique, offering not only fashion and home decor items but also antiques, plants and stationery. The on-site personalization service adds an extra dimension, allowing customers to give a new life to old objects.
What I like:
Brigitte Tanaka is without a doubt one of my favorite stores in Paris. Its location, nestled next to the church of Saint-Roch, is simply incredible. A harmonious blend of old and new, East and West, is reflected not only in the products but also in the store’s decor itself. The antique custom crockery with a 18K gold writing is a real crush for me, perfectly illustrating their passion for objects that have a soul and a history. I also appreciate their creative approach and respect for traditional crafts, from hand embroidery to ceramics. It is a place that exudes creativity, originality and love of detail. It offers a truly unique shopping experience.
A L’ORIENTAL
The Oriental is a hidden treasure among the Royal Palace Gardens, a historic site that has been the scene of many pleasures and shops since its opening in 1818. Despite the site’s transformations over the years – revolutions, fires, wars and real estate projects – this unique shop has stood the test of time, attracting smokers and shopkeepers with its incredible collection of pipes and heterogeneous objects. The history of the shop is as fascinating as the treasures it holds. Since 1999, it has been run by Rakel Van Kote, a non-smoker who succumbed to the persuasion of her husband, an avid collector of tobacco-related items. This scientist, violinist and fashion designer even started smoking eucalyptus leaves to better immerse herself in the world of smoke.
The key points to remember:
A L’Oriental is a place full of history and character, offering an intimate and unique shopping experience. Its small size of 20 m2 allows to accommodate only one client at a time, which creates a very personal atmosphere. The shop is full of smoking items, including new or old pipes, wood or noble materials such as gold, ivory, horn, amber, and even tobacco boxes and smokes for femme fatale. But make no mistake, even non-smokers can find their happiness here. The curious will be able to find frames, miniatures, jewelry and antiques among the multitude of objects in the shop.
What I like:
I appreciate how A’L’Oriental manages to maintain its historic charm while offering a unique and personalized shopping experience. The overcrowded display cases remind us of Istanbul bazaars, and searching for a specific treasure in this cave of Ali Baba is an adventure in itself. Rakel Van Kote, with her obvious passion for the objects she collects, gives the shop a soul that you can’t find anywhere else. His ability to create pieces for iconic fashion figures such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Karl Lagerfeld demonstrates his talent and creativity. I admire her choice not to always sell a rare piece, but rather to keep it to show and admire. It is this combination of history, passion and uniqueness that makes A’L’Oriental a truly special place.
In this edition, we have been wandering the narrow streets of the Palais Royal – Saint Honoré district, exploring signs that are the epitome of elegance and innovation. Each point of sale, with its distinctive character, reminded us how the world of retail is a dynamic crossroads of traditions, cultures and aesthetics.
But the discovery doesn’t end there, and I’d like to encourage you to join us on October 12 for the Retail Tour with the CGBB. It’s a great opportunity to live these retail experiences and engage in enriching discussions with other passionate professionals.
If you are not yet a member of the CGBB Circle, don’t wait any longer.
Join us via this link: https://www.cgbb.fr/produit/club-networking-paris-bienveillance-business-entreprise-mode-retail-tour-volet-1/
A convivial lunch will crown this morning, offering an additional opportunity for exchange and networking.
And, as our song of the month “Le soleil donne” evokes, we always try to see the sunny side of retail, where innovation meets tradition and where each brand, in its own way, illuminates our metropolis! 💗