Exploring Paradies Lagardère's Airport Presence Globally

Paradies Lagardère (formerly The Paradies Shops, Inc.) has a vast presence in airports across North America, with locations in over 100 airports and a total of 850 stores and 170 restaurants and bars. The company was founded in 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia, by brothers Jim and Dan Paradies, and their first store was a toy shop at the then-Atlanta Municipal Airport. Since then, Paradies Lagardère has expanded significantly, now encompassing over 1,035 stores and offering a range of specialty options, including restaurants, bookstores, and more. With a strong focus on innovation and customer experience, the company has become a leading name in airport concessions, delivering engaging and memorable experiences to travellers.

Paradies Lagardère's first store

Paradies Lagardère, formerly The Paradies Shops, Inc., opened its first store in 1960. Founded by brothers Jim and Dan Paradies, the store was a toy shop located in the then-Atlanta Municipal Airport. Since then, Paradies Lagardère has expanded to over 1,035 stores in 103 airports, with a presence in both the United States and Canada. The company operates a variety of specialty stores, restaurants, and bookstores under well-known brands.

The Paradies brothers' entry into the airport retail space was a pioneering move that sparked a retail revolution. Their initial toy shop set a precedent, and over the years, Paradies Lagardère has continued to innovate and create trends in the industry. The company's expertise in brand development and management, coupled with its passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences, has solidified its reputation as a leader in airport retail.

Paradies Lagardère's extensive network of stores showcases a diverse range of brands, including The New York Times, various American collegiate athletic conferences, Brooks Brothers, Corsa, Spanx, iStore, Swarovski, Pandora, and Dylan's Candy, among others. The company also manages fine dining food and beverage concepts within airports, ensuring that travellers have a variety of engaging and enjoyable experiences.

The success of Paradies Lagardère's first store laid the foundation for the company's growth and expansion. With a focus on consumer research and innovative design, Paradies Lagardère has become a trusted name in airport retail, known for its creativity, inspiration, and customer-centric approach. The company's commitment to delivering superior experiences has been recognised through numerous awards, including being named the "Best Overall Retailer" by Airport Revenue News for 23 consecutive years.

Today, Paradies Lagardère continues to elevate the traveller experience, offering a wide range of products and services that cater to the diverse needs and interests of travellers. With over 850 retail stores, 170+ restaurants and bars, and a presence in 100+ airports, Paradies Lagardère has become a staple of the North American airport landscape, providing travellers with convenient and enjoyable shopping and dining options.

The company's acquisition by the Lagardère Group

Paradies Lagardère, formerly The Paradies Shops, Inc., was acquired by the Lagardère Group in October 2015. The company now operates as a division of the Lagardère Group, with a focus on travel retail.

The Paradies Shops was founded in 1960 by brothers Jim and Dan Paradies, who opened their first store, a toy shop, at the then-Atlanta Municipal Airport. Over the years, the company expanded to include over 1,035 stores in 103 airports across the United States and Canada. The company operated under various brand names and offered specialty stores, restaurants, and bookstores.

In 2015, the Lagardère Group, a French company, acquired Paradies and merged it with LS travel retail North America, creating a new market leader for airport concessions. The combined entity, Paradies Lagardère, now encompasses all stores previously operated by The Paradies Shops and LS Retail.

Since the acquisition, Paradies Lagardère has continued to expand and innovate, partnering with various brands and companies to enhance the traveller experience. The company has been recognised for its excellence in airport concessions and its commitment to sustainability. As of 2025, Paradies Lagardère operates in over 100 airports with 850 retail stores and 170+ restaurants and bars, serving millions of travellers each year.

The acquisition by the Lagardère Group brought together the expertise and resources of both companies, allowing Paradies Lagardère to become a leading name in North American travel retail and dining. The company's focus on consumer research, innovative designs, and exceptional customer service has driven its success and helped it secure partnerships with renowned brands.

The number of Paradies Lagardère stores

Paradies Lagardère is a leading North American travel retailer and restaurateur, with stores in airports, hotels, and other locations throughout the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1960 by brothers Jim and Dan Paradies, who opened their first store—a toy shop—in the then-Atlanta Municipal Airport. Since then, Paradies Lagardère has expanded significantly and now operates over 1,035 stores in 103 airports, with annual sales surpassing $1.5 billion.

The company's stores include specialty stores, restaurants, and bookstores, operating under brands such as The New York Times, various American collegiate athletic conferences, Brooks Brothers, Corsa, Spanx, iStore, Swarovski, Pandora, and Dylan's Candy, to name a few. Paradies Lagardère also manages multiple fine dining, food, and beverage concepts within airports.

In 2015, the company was acquired by the French Lagardère Group and now encompasses all stores formerly under The Paradies Shops and LS Retail names. This acquisition further bolstered Paradies Lagardère's presence in the travel retail market.

As of 2024, Paradies Lagardère had 850 retail stores and 170+ restaurants and bars across 100+ airports, employing more than 10,000 associates. The company continues to expand and elevate the traveler experience through innovative shopping and dining options.

Paradies Lagardère's presence in multiple airports across North America showcases its success and leadership in the industry. The company's ability to manage a large number of stores and maintain its reputation as a premier airport retailer is impressive and contributes to its overall success.

The company's expansion

Paradies Lagardère, the North American division of Lagardère Travel Retail, has a strong presence in over 100 airports across North America. The company's expansion is a remarkable story of innovation, trendsetting, and a deep understanding of airport travellers' needs.

Founded in 1960 by brothers Jim and Dan Paradies, the company started as a toy shop at the then-Atlanta Municipal Airport. Over the years, Paradies Lagardère has grown exponentially, now offering a diverse range of retail and dining options. With 850 stores and 170 restaurants and bars, the company has become a leading name in airport retail and dining, providing travellers with engaging and memorable experiences.

The key to their success and expansion lies in their ability to adapt to changing consumer needs and trends. Paradies Lagardère has always been at the forefront of innovation, utilising technology to enhance the customer experience. For instance, their partnership with Grab allows travellers to pre-order meals via an app, while touchscreens in TripAdvisor stores capture travel information, empowering customers with knowledge.

The company's brand portfolio is another significant factor in its expansion. Paradies Lagardère has strategically partnered with well-known brands such as TripAdvisor®, Brooks Brothers, NBC’s Today, P.F. Chang’s, and Chick-fil-A. They have also collaborated with celebrity chefs like Cat Cora and Michael Symon, attracting customers with their star power.

Paradies Lagardère's expansion strategy also includes a focus on sustainability and social responsibility. They have partnered with eco-friendly and ethically-sourced brands, such as Merit Coffee Co. and Ruta Maya Coffee, reflecting their commitment to environmental and social causes.

The company's recognition and awards further solidify their position as an industry leader. In 2018, Airport Revenue News named Paradies the "Best Overall Retailer" for the 23rd consecutive year, a testament to their exceptional service and operations.

Paradies Lagardère's expansion journey is a testament to their ability to adapt, innovate, and deliver exceptional experiences. With their customer-centric approach, strategic brand partnerships, and sustainability initiatives, the company has firmly established itself as a leading airport retailer and restaurateur in North America.

The company's founding

Paradies Lagardère, formerly The Paradies Shops, Inc., was founded in 1960 by brothers Jim and Dan Paradies. The company's first store was a toy shop located in the then-Atlanta Municipal Airport. Since its founding, Paradies has expanded to over 1,035 stores in more than 100 airports across the United States and Canada. The company operates a variety of specialty stores, restaurants, and bookstores under different brand names.

The Paradies brothers' entry into the airport retail business was a pioneering move that ignited a retail revolution. Their first airport store opened a new horizon for travellers, offering them a unique and engaging shopping and dining experience. The company's success and longevity can be attributed to its consumer-centric approach, driven by consumer research and innovative teams of designers, architects, merchants, and operators.

Over the years, Paradies has continuously expanded its brand portfolio, partnering with well-known brands such as TripAdvisor®, Brooks Brothers, NBC's Today, P.F. Chang's, and Chick-fil-A. They have also collaborated with celebrity chefs like Cat Cora and Michael Symon to enhance their dining division. The company's commitment to innovation is evident in their adoption of new technology, such as the Grab app for meal pre-orders and touchscreens in their TripAdvisor stores.

In October 2015, The Paradies Shops, Inc. was acquired by the French company Lagardère Group and became known as Paradies Lagardère. This acquisition merged all stores under The Paradies Shops and LS Retail names, further solidifying their presence in the airport retail and dining market. Paradies Lagardère has received numerous accolades, including being named the "Best Overall Retailer" by Airport Revenue News for 23 consecutive years.

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