Louis Vuitton is planning to replace its current flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan with a larger, taller building. LVMH, the French luxury retailer that owns Louis Vuitton, has filed an application with the Department of City Planning for a new 25-story property at 1 East 57th Street in the Plaza District, according to Crain’s.
The proposed building would be 485 feet tall and cover 148,000 square feet along Fifth Avenue. This represents a significant increase from the existing structure, which stands at 20 stories and spans 91,000 square feet.
According to the application submitted to city planners, the new development will include a 10-story flagship retail space described as a “world-class experiential retail destination.” The plans also feature a cafe and terrace with views of Central Park on the eighth floor and four floors of exposition space above it. These upper floors are intended for programs about Louis Vuitton’s brand history.
Additional features in the proposed building include a luxury spa, showroom suites, restaurants, and a bar and garden on the top floor.
LVMH is seeking approval for an additional floor-area bonus of nearly 25,000 square feet. In return for this extra space, LVMH has committed to making improvements at the nearby Lexington Avenue-59th Street subway station. These upgrades would include installing an elevator that complies with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
LVMH did not respond to requests for comment regarding these plans.
A year ago, LVMH filed documents to demolish its existing flagship location. Since then, scaffolding featuring Louis Vuitton’s logo print has covered the site as demolition work proceeds.
The company’s plans for upgrading its flagship store have been under consideration for several years. In 2023, reports indicated that LVMH was interviewing prominent architects—sometimes referred to as “starchitects”—for the project. However, no architect is mentioned in the recent city planning application.
Beyond New York City, LVMH is also working on real estate projects elsewhere in the United States. The company intends to build a new Tiffany & Co. store at the former Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel site in Los Angeles and has submitted plans for another large Louis Vuitton store and campus designed by Frank Gehry.
