Exterior of the new Louis Vuitton flagship on 57th Street in New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Debuts Spectacular New OMA-Designed Location
The temporary 57th Street space pays homage to the New York City skyline and hosts the first Louis Vuitton café and chocolate shop in the U.S.
Four 50-sculptures made using Louis Vuitton Courrier Lozine 90 trunks—conceived by OMA partner and Galerie Creative Mind, Shohei Shigematsu—animate the atrium of the new Louis Vuitton flagship in Manhattan. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Just as New York City is beginning to roll out its holiday splendor, a hard-to-overlook destination on 57th Street’s luxury shopping thoroughfare beckons with a dynamic installation that only hints at the magical atmosphere within. Now open, Louis Vuitton’s newest location, designed by world-renowned architecture firm OMA, represents the maison’s largest location in the United States, and houses the first branded café and chocolate shop in the country.
Visitors to the store—which will serve as a glorious placeholder while the maison’s flagship across the street undergoes construction—first encounter a striking facade ornamented with Louis Vuitton’s iconic four-point stars and a pair of towering merry-go-round animals. A complementing window display hints at the exuberant atmosphere found just beyond the doors. Here, four 50-foot totems of Louis Vuitton Courrier Lozine 90 trunks—rendered in four of the house’s most iconic patterns: historic stripes, classic Monogram canvas, white Damier, and a metallic Monogram—balance in striking geometric formations. The installation, conceived by OMA partner and Galerie Creative Mind, Shohei Shigematsu, guide the eye up to take in the space’s five floors with architectural accents that nod to the Manhattan skyline.
A capsule collection of New York-specific designs are available at the new Louis Vuitton flagship on 57th Street. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Neverfull Inside Out in taxi yellow, which is available exclusively at the new Manhattan flagship. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Each of the elevator niches celebrate one of Louis Vuitton’s innovative collaborations. Bags crafted in conjunction with Richard Prince, Yayoi Kusama, Supreme, Takashi Murakami, and Stephen Sprouse are presented as artworks, in museum-like illuminated plinths against an oversize matching background. Other alcoves glow with gleaming metallic rows of Keepall and Speedy bags.
An assortment of pieces exclusive to the location punctuate the first two floors, including the newly launched Neverfull Inside Out in taxi yellow, the Speedy Soft with yellow lining, the Capucines paneled with the city’s skyscrapers, and the GO14 in shimmery light gold. Collectible figurine Vivienne here is presented in a “New York State of mind” design on small leather goods, silk scarves, and other accessories. Womenswear and menswear populate the first two floors with a monogram spot open for personalization.
Interior of the intimate Le Café Louis Vuitton which will serve light bites throughout the day. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Tartlets filled with fresh, seasonal ingredients at Le Café Louis Vuitton. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
However, what will surely make the 57th Street location an irresistible draw is the multitude of culinary offerings available for the first time in the U.S. On the fourth floor, Le Café Louis Vuitton will serve upscale small plates, conceived by French chefs Arnaud Donckele and Maxime Frédéric and executed by rising stars Christophe Bellanca and Mary George, throughout the day in a cozy library-like lounge space with table seating for 70.
Guests can sample an array of mouthwatering morsels like lobster or truffle ravioli embossed with the flower Monogram, Damier tartlets filled with fresh, seasonal ingredients, Croque sandwiches first served in Louis Vuitton’s Paris location, or a classic burger elevated in LV style. A playful installation of Louis Vuitton luggage tags animates the ceiling while an expansive wall of more than 600 volumes, curated by Ian Luna of Rizzoli, enhance the cultural atmosphere.
Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric, Louis Vuitton's first chocolate shop in the U.S., is located within the new Manhattan flagship. Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Nearby, Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton makes its Stateside debut after locations in Paris, Singapore and Shanghai. Decadent bars, truffles, and other treats are crafted using the finest ingredients from around the world, while familiar Louis Vuitton emblems are rendered in confectionery perfection. Not to be missed is the Vivienne, the maison’s mascot since 2018, which is presented on a Malle music box. Formed entirely of chocolate, it even pirouettes when the chocolate key is turned.
The by-appointment-only fifth floor houses Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades and Art de la Table, as well as incredible pieces of haute couture and high jewelry. Several sumptuous private shopping salons prepare to welcome esteemed visitors.
From the fashion to the architecture, epicurean delicacies, and glorious pieces of collectible design by Carlo Mollino, Charlotte Perriand, Christophe Delcourt, and Pierre Augustin Rose coupled with artworks by American talents like Todd Eberle, Chris Martin, and Caio Fonseca, this latest Louis Vuitton destination sets a new benchmark for luxury shopping on one of the world’s most famous streets. Undoubtedly, its unique design and impeccable offerings will lure everyone from collectors to the curious throughout the holiday season and beyond until the Louis Vuitton flagship on the corner of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue re-emerges from under the 16-story façade, rendered to look like a towering stack of trunks in Trianon Grey canvas.
Cover: Exterior of the new Louis Vuitton flagship on 57th Street in New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
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