Merci!!

Behind the Parisian quartier of Le Marais, on the Boulevard Beaumarchais, between the Place de la Repúblique and the Place de la Bastille (or between la Bastille and la Republique as Marc, mi driver, noted) a little more than a month ago a new boutique called Merci came to life.

More than a boutique, one can say that it's actually an emporium, for you can find from used books to antique china, YSL or Chanel outfits, Gap Jeans, or even plants and flowers!

Of course, in spite of never being around that particular quartier, I had to go and check it out.

I was nicely shocked: It is quite different from other Paris' Concept Stores as Colette or Montaige Market, which are mainly multi-label shops.

Merci has a cafeteria called Used Book Café, which walls packed to the ceiling with used books create a warm and cozy atmosphere. There's a patio with a parked red Fiat Cinquecento full of toys. And the main salon has very special finishing touches, such as hundreds of tea cups hanging from the roof in white laces.

The clothes, although not my style, change every week so it's a matter of dropping by from time to time.

But the most important thing here is that its owner, Marie-France Cohen (also owner of Bonpoint, the oldest and nicest baby clothing label in Paris) has decided to donate all incomes of Merci to a benefit helping the children and women of Madagasca.

Voilá, this is new: the Concept-Store Solidaire.

Merci, Marie-France, for knowing how tobe grateful.

Used Book Café at Merci.