How can we reinvent shopping at a time when certain historic galleries are closing their doors? This new XXL complex has found the magic formula by focusing on ultra-desirable fashion brands.
The contrast is striking. While some historic shopping centers are experiencing their final hours in the face of the rise of e-commerce, such as Bercy 2, which closed its doors after decades of activity, large-scale projects are becoming increasingly rare. From now on, the sector prefers to renovate the existing, as Cap 3000 did with its spectacular facelift, rather than build. This shows that the imminent opening of this new site in the Paris region is an exception and is already arousing the curiosity of fashionistas looking for new products.
It is in this context that Central Park Valvert is preparing to open on May 20, 2026, in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, as revealed by LSA magazine. And one thing is certain: the place is nothing like the shopping centers we know. Here, shopping takes place in the open air, in the heart of an immense 4.7 hectare (47,000 m²) park, the equivalent of more than six football fields with a lake, lawns, small woods and even a sports course. Partly imagined by designer Philippe Starck, the whole thing almost gives the impression of taking a stroll… with a few nice shopping breaks.
But the detail that changes everything lies elsewhere. At a time when you can order everything from your sofa, why travel? Precisely to live a different experience. And on this point, Central Park Valvert has found the solution: offering what you can’t find elsewhere, and making you want to make the trip just for that.
On the fashion side, the bet is particularly successful. The center attracts brands that are still absent from French boutiques, capable of triggering a trip between friends on their own. Starting with Lefties, Zara’s little sister, adored for its trendy pieces at low prices, which is opening its very first store in France here. Another highly anticipated arrival: Sarenza. The online shoe specialist is finally going real, with a store where you can try on and adopt its flagship models.
Added to this is a “pop-up village”, designed to accommodate ephemeral concepts and renew the offer over the weeks. Enough to transform each visit into a new discovery. Result: more than a shopping center, the place stands out as a real destination. We come there to stroll around, we spend the afternoon there… and we often leave with the room that we hadn’t planned for, but impossible to leave in the cabin.
