Entrance
The entrance of Les Galeries Mirifiques resembles a 1920s Paris corner store. The walls are made up of distressed stone, and there are golden sconces on either side of the entrance.
The store’s name is displayed across the entrance in an Art Deco font. Above the name, “Innombrables Étages Magiques,” or Countless Magical Floors, is printed over a blue banner.
Two white signs with red writing describe the store in French. The text on this sign roughly translates to the following text:
The Galeries Mirifiques were founded in 1894, establishing the Hidden Place as a premier shopping destination.
The Galeries Mirifiques watch over and protect the Magical Statue of Montmartre. This bronze statue depicts a woman seated on a pedestal.
It serves as the entrance to the Hidden Place.
Non-magical people will only see an ordinary statue, but when a magical individual is near, the statue comes to life, providing an entrance to the Hidden Place of Paris.
The smaller of the plaques discusses an award-winning Macaron Maker and store, established at the location in 1605:
Maison Meringue
Inventors of award-winning magic macaron in Paris
Home of the largest macaron, created in 1605
Flavors of France with snail, frog and champagne, and the chamelion range for multicolor skin effects
Rue Malabete
Entrance
The interior of the store is full of nods to international wizarding schools, a variety of wizarding gear, memorabilia, and much more displayed on wooden shelves and merchandise units.
The displays located on the floor are topped with white speckled granite countertops.
Just inside the door, a list of “items” available in the store is listed on individual yellow plaques on a green wall.
Displays
The walls and trimming are painting in bright creams, greens, and blues. Shiny golden trim adds to the Art Deco styling of the interior.
Several of the display cabinets also feature select merchandise available in the store.
Second Floor
The faux second floor features Quidditch and “sports” displays from wizarding schools around the world.
Several Quidditch Cups and other trophies sit atop pedestals, with others sitting directly on the floor. Just below the display is a large collection of Quidditch merchandise.
Other Decor
A golden elevator facade is also featured near the back of the store. Hypothetically, this elevator would take guest from one floor or section of the department store to another (whether that be up and down or side to side).
Different tea services are displayed above these shelves. Les Galeries Mirifiques does sell some housewares, so having these on display is fitting for a department store.
Wizarding robes from all schools are on display above robes that are available for guests to purchase. Hogwarts, which is a “foreign” school here in Paris, has robes displayed next to French school Beauxbatons. Both are made in the more retro 1920s robe style to fit the land’s time period.
Check-Out Area
There is also a loft area above the check-out counter, which features even more items that might be available at a 1920s wizarding department store. This section has displays for Parfum, or perfume, and Jouets, or toys.
The registers also fit the land’s time period of 1920s Paris. The “caisse” is golden with an art deco design. Although the registers are vintage in style, they also feature a modern screen to show pricing.