What: Galeries Lafayette’s affiliate (Planet Indigo and Société Limitée) store opens a 3,000 m² store in Nîmes, introducing 150 brands and revitalising the city centre.

Why it is important: The project demonstrates how department stores can revitalise city centres and attract exclusive brands, aligning with recent successful renovations across the network. 

The opening of Galeries Lafayette in Nîmes marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of French department stores as catalysts for urban renewal. The 3,000 m² store, featuring 150 brands—some exclusive to the city—embodies a strategic effort to reinvigorate the heart of Nîmes and restore the Coupole’s role as a commercial anchor. This ambitious €9 million project, completed in partnership with local businesses, not only modernises the retail landscape but also improves accessibility and connectivity with historic shopping streets. The store’s design, with its elegant shop-in-shop corners and direct escalator access, is tailored to local consumers while aiming to attract over one million visitors annually. The initiative reflects Galeries Lafayette’s broader investment strategy, which has seen similar successes in other cities, and underscores the importance of balancing heritage preservation with contemporary retail innovation. By drawing exclusive brands and increasing footfall, the Nîmes opening demonstrates the enduring relevance of department stores in shaping vibrant urban environments and supporting local economies. 

IADS Notes: The Nîmes opening mirrors the successful renovation of Lyon Bron in October 2024 and the Haussmann flagship’s double-digit growth in July 2025. The strategy emphasises revitalising city centres, attracting exclusive brands, and integrating department stores into broader urban renewal efforts, while also addressing the challenges of network consolidation and evolving consumer expectations

Galeries Lafayette’s new affiliate store in the South of France