Au gagne petit, Historical department store on Avenue de l'Opera, Paris, France
The Gagne-Petit is a historic department store on Avenue de l'Opéra featuring an ornate stone facade with a carved relief of a knife grinder that visually represents the shop's name and purpose. Today it operates as a Monoprix supermarket while its original decorative exterior remains protected as a historical monument.
The building was constructed in 1878 when merchant Bouruet-Aubertot relocated his textile shop after the demolition of Rue des Moineaux. The architecture and design from that era continue to define this corner of Avenue de l'Opéra today.
The name comes from a traditional craft practiced by low-income workers in Paris, and the ornate relief on the facade shows how artisans were celebrated in the city's commercial life. This reflected the importance of skilled trades to everyday urban society during the 1800s.
The shop sits directly on Avenue de l'Opéra in a busy commercial area and is easily reached on foot. The protected historical facade is fully visible from the street, making it simple to view the carved details even while passing by.
A dark green marble plaque at the base features Roman numerals marking the exact year of construction in classical notation. This hidden detail often surprises visitors who focus only on the ornamental relief higher up on the facade.
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