The old Tati in Barbès is trading its piles of dish towels and great deals for a brand new life! Until June 29, 2025, the iconic building in the 18th arrondissement is being reborn under the direction of Youssouf Fofana, creator of Maison Château Rouge. Renamed Grand Magasin Éphémère, this trendy space blends fashion, culture, and craftsmanship across three floors featuring a concept store, a library, a cafeteria, workshops, and even exhibitions.
The vision behind the project by the Union of International Youth? To reinvent this symbol of popular commerce into a vibrant cultural meeting place dedicated "to the diasporas and African cultures,” as described by the designer.
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Independence and Identity
On the ready-to-wear side, the store – brand new! – features two distinct areas. The "International Community" highlights independent brands, inspired by counter-cultures and driven by a committed vision, with names like Omo Ita, Maryse Segu, Maison Château Rouge, Just Kids, and Free the Youth.
Next to it, the "Raw Materials" area celebrates local craftsmanship through a new wave of visionary designers, including Kartik Research, Meerma Earth, Forêt Vierge, Reward If Found, Fichu, and Benoit Lalloz. Two atmospheres, one creative spirit.
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How about a little art with your shopping?
You guessed it, this Pop-Up department store mixes artists and disciplines; there, fashion pieces sit alongside works of art. In collaboration with the Magnin-A gallery (11th), a retrospective of the two photographers Seydou Keïta and Malick Sidibé offers a chance to discover a series of snapshots taken in 1998 at the Barbès metro exit for the magazine Tati 50x50, running until February 23. Other cultural events of the same kind will follow. The space, reimagined with the support of the architecture collective Ciguë and the agency Diplomates, will also host meetings and workshops.
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A Landmark Rooted in the Neighborhood
Known for its budget-friendly shopping model and its pink checkered logo, Tati became an intergenerational symbol in the Barbès neighborhood. Initially threatened with closure in 2017, the store and its 2,800 square meters survived thanks to its acquisition by the GPG group (which also owns Gifi stores). However, the decline in foot traffic in the following years, worsened by Covid, ultimately led to its closing and the departure of its 34 team members in September 2021.
In the long run, the program "Reinventing Paris 3" by the city plans to divide the space into several parts: 2,400 square meters of housing, including some for ownership, 2,400 more for offices, and 1,200 square meters of retail on the ground floor, including a restaurant and a "smart hotel" with…
740 m2 and, finally, a cultural space at the corner of the Barbès and Rochechouart boulevards. A project that requires significant work, the schedule of which is not yet known.Check out this post on Instagram
