Today (May 14), Galeries Lafayette announced that its Beijing store will officially cease operations on May 27.
In its announcement, Galeries Lafayette stated that after the closure of the Beijing store, customers will still be able to enjoy full membership benefits at any store nationwide. Accumulated points in their accounts will remain valid according to their original expiration dates and can be used as normal at stores across mainland China. Card refund services can be handled through customer service.
It is understood that this closure marks another contraction of Galeries Lafayette’s offline footprint in China, following the shutdown of its Chongqing store in 2025. At present, Galeries Lafayette retains only two stores in mainland China: the Shanghai Lujiazui Center store and the Shenzhen UpperHills store.
Public information shows that Galeries Lafayette, officially translated into Chinese as “Lafayette Department Store,” is affiliated with France’s Galeries Lafayette Group. Founded in Paris in 1893, the department store’s business spans luxury goods, fashion, beauty, homeware and other sectors, making it an important global landmark for high-end retail and beauty trends. According to foreign media reports, beauty is one of Galeries Lafayette’s core strategic categories, contributing around 10% of its global annual sales.
As early as 1997, Galeries Lafayette tested the Chinese market by opening its first store in Chengdu, but later withdrew due to difficulties adapting to the local market. In 2013, the retailer returned to China through a joint venture model, opening its first mainland flagship store in Beijing’s Xidan district. With its French accessible-luxury positioning and portfolio of trendy brands, the store once became a landmark high-end department store in the area. From 2017 to 2019, supported by the steady performance of the Beijing flagship store and the opening of its Shanghai store, Galeries Lafayette’s annual sales ranked among the leading high-end department stores in China.
However, in recent years, Galeries Lafayette’s operations in China have come under continued pressure. Its Chongqing Incity store, which opened in September 2023, closed in March 2025 after operating for about a year and a half. Its Shenzhen UpperHills store reduced some brand counters in 2025, though the company said the store remains in normal operation and that the adjustment was part of routine brand renewal.
Financial data shows that Galeries Lafayette’s French headquarters is currently seeing strong performance in its domestic market while facing pressure overseas. In fiscal year 2025, Galeries Lafayette Group’s total sales reached €3.1 billion, with its flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris serving as the core growth engine and contributing two-thirds of the group’s revenue. The share of domestic customers rose to 40%, while overseas markets continued to provide weakening support for the group.
