For a place with such a nondescript name, Centre Commercial really exceeds expectations. What sounds like a generic shopping center is in this case a carefully edited hub by the founders of Vejas, a bright and airy cluster of retail spaces filled with men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, homeware and fragrances, plus outposts for outdoor and children. The brands run from reputable global names to niche European labels, all curated for their sustainable sourcing. So yes, basically like if Vejas expanded beyond shoes, this would be it.

Since opening in 2010, Centre Commercial has become an anchor in the Canal St Martin neighborhood that has in recent years become a proper cool kid retail stretch with A.P.C., Weekday, Saag and Bonjour Jacob as neighbors. Which basically tells you about as much as you need to know about the crowd it draws.

To call it a boutique feels limiting, it is perhaps better categorized as a centre commercial, a department store with a point of view, and with something for everyone. Their selection ranges from workwear casual to elevated minimalist chic, and their lifestyle edit reads like a cool girl’s Pinterest page. It’s a required stop whenever I’m in the neighborhood and a much less hectic shopping experience than Merci.