P
aris’s retail scene hinges on a tight equilibrium between locals and tourists. In 2023, the city boasted 28 shops per 1,000 residents—well above Nice (19.5), Bordeaux (19.3), and Lyon (17.1) according to APUR’s triennial survey—supporting roughly 60,800 active stores that remain resilient even as other city centres decline. Yet two forces threaten this density: mass tourism and property speculation.

    MEDEF’s Paris chief, Marie‑Sophie Ngo Ky Claverie, notes that the high shop count reflects demand beyond residents. Daily, the city’s population nearly doubles: 300,000 leave, 1.2 million arrive for work, plus tourists and day‑trippers. Though Paris houses only 17 % of the Île‑de‑France population, it hosts 39 % of the region’s shops.

    The BHV department store exemplifies the delicate balance. Historically neither a runaway hit nor a flop, it served both locals and distant shoppers. Frédéric Merlin’s 2023 acquisition disrupted this equilibrium by prioritizing events, sparking backlash over a Shein pop‑up, prompting traditional brands to depart, and leading Banque des Territoires to abandon its purchase.