The 5th Avenue Location Includes the Brand’s First American Restaurant, Will Remain Open Until Its Flagship Renovation Is Complete
Louis Vuitton has launched a high-profile temporary store at 6 East 57th Street in New York City, a site near Manhattan’s Billionaires’ Row, while its Fifth Avenue flagship undergoes extensive renovation. The temporary location, expected to operate for about three years, combines high-end retail with luxury dining and exclusive experiences to immerse visitors fully in the brand’s heritage and innovation.
Designed by architect Shohei Shigematsu of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, the store’s atrium features a striking installation of four towering pillars of Louis Vuitton trunks, reminiscent of the Manhattan skyline. “Stepping into a Louis Vuitton store is about embarking on a journey,” CEO Pietro Beccari shared. Beccari has positioned Louis Vuitton as a cultural brand, collaborating with figures such as Pharrell Williams, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal to bolster the brand’s cultural resonance.
The New York store includes multiple luxury dining options, making it Louis Vuitton’s first U.S. venture into gastronomy. Le Café Louis Vuitton, developed with French chefs Arnaud Donckele and Maxime Frédéric, offers what the brand calls “luxury snacking” in a library-inspired space. Overseen by Michelin-starred Christophe Bellanca and Mary George of Daniel restaurant, the menu fuses upscale comfort food with signature Louis Vuitton flair. Offerings include monogrammed savory waffles with caviar, crab “Louis” salad, and a high-end burger named Le Burger “1898,” as well as desserts like a Bartlett pear tart and hazelnut praline. “We aim to resonate with New Yorkers and visitors alike,” Bellanca said, emphasizing the mix of gourmet dishes and hospitality.
For chocolate aficionados, Louis Vuitton has also opened Chocolat Maxime Frédéric, the first of its kind in the U.S., featuring treats such as Damier-printed chocolate bars and an elaborate $375 Vivienne Doudou chocolate figure.
The store’s five floors offer a seamless blend of shopping and cultural experiences. Floors one through three are dedicated to men’s and women’s fashion, accessories, and an exclusive New York-themed capsule collection. The collection features items with iconic city imagery, such as taxicab yellow leather goods and New York license plate motifs, with options for customization through hot stamping and hand-painting stations. A floor dedicated to VIP clients includes private suites, while art and historical displays showcase Louis Vuitton’s legacy of artist collaborations, including pieces by Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, and Yayoi Kusama.
Designed with an Art Deco-inspired façade and an open, industrial aesthetic, the 57th Street location honors the space’s history—previously a Niketown and, more recently, a temporary Tiffany’s store. Beccari noted that the temporary store “refreshes a little bit our image” and anticipates it will surpass the sales of the brand’s historic flagship, reflecting Louis Vuitton’s deep connection with New York City, which has been a part of the brand’s legacy since 1898.
