Paris Luxury Boutiques Fortify Windows as Looting Fears Mount Before Saturday Protests

Metal grates now protect the Louis Vuitton flagship store on the Champs-Elysees, a measure not previously needed during quieter times, while the Christian Dior Couture store on avenue Montaigne has implemented similar defenses. Both locations avoided significant damage during last weekend's unrest, unlike several other luxury retailers. Along rue Saint-Honore, close to the presidential palace, shops such as Burberry, Christian Dior perfumes, and Guerlain displayed boarded windows after being looted on Saturday. All remained closed on Wednesday, including a Salomon sportswear store on boulevard de la Madeleine, which also faced ransacking. An Hermes boutique on avenue George V suffered broken windows, and its Marseille location was severely damaged, with CFO Eric du Halgouet stating it "won't reopen any time soon." Increased security measures have since been adopted by Hermes. With new protests planned for Saturday, businesses and residents in Paris’ upscale shopping areas are bracing for potential further violence, which was widely shared on social media over the weekend.