Unexpected Jewels
PARIS, France — Searching for letterboxes in Paris has led to the discovery of some surprising sights, over and above the expected must-see Paris attractions.![]() |
Kiosque des Noctambules |
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Publicis Drugstore des Champs Elysées |
Near the Arc is the Publicis Drugstore, a world-class example of the meaning of full-service. Sitting on the site of the old Astoria Hotel, where General Eisenhower headquartered when serving as the commander of Allied Forces in World War II, the store was the brainchild of Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, a French entrepreneur who founded France's first advertising agency. His goal was to put luxury within the reach of all Parisians, while creating a welcoming space where people would want to linger. As his massively successful advertising career and this project attest, he had a keen understanding of what Parisians want. More than 20,000 people pass through these doors daily.
Iranian-American architect Michele Saee completely redesigned the building inside and out in 2004, covering the exterior with the same transparent glass used for the pyramid at the Louvre. Walls and doors that might block light were removed to expand transparency and allow an interaction between the activities of Publicis and the life of the city. In Saee's goal to create a design that was "organic and feminine," angles were replaced by curves, vertical planes turned horizontal.
Really a complex of shops and eateries, Publicix offers a highly rated restaurant with a famed executive chef, a recording studio, a bookstore, an extensive newsstand with publications from around the world, two theaters, a gourmet food store, a wine shop, a designer jewelery store, a cigar store, other boutiques and shops, and you can even have a prescription filled there.