Lotte Department Store is set to completely revamp its food hall at the Jamsil location into a luxury dining space. This renovation of the entire basement food hall marks the first major update in a decade since 2017.
Starting October 26, Lotte Department Store announced it will begin renovations on the basement food hall at its Jamsil location. The project will be carried out in phases, with plans to complete a 34,000-square-foot 'luxury dining specialty hall' by the first half of 2028.
The renovation will focus on dividing the food hall into two distinct areas based on customer needs: 'EATS' for dining and 'BUY' for purchasing ingredients, ready-to-eat meals, and gifts.
The EATS area will feature renowned domestic and international gourmet brands, offering exclusive menus and differentiated services available only at the Jamsil location. The aim is to cater to both VIP customers and the diverse culinary demands of foreign tourists.
The BUY area will include a 'premium supermarket' showcasing carefully selected high-quality ingredients. The department store's buyers will directly source items such as Korean beef and fruits, with enhanced direct shipping services from producers.
A takeout section will allow customers to observe the cooking process of their selected ingredients. The gift section will feature rare international ingredients, collaborations with famous chefs, and limited-edition products for holidays and special occasions.
The design of the food hall will be handled by the American design studio 'Roman and Williams,' known for its work on spaces like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Lotte Department Store plans to create a unique luxury dining experience at the Jamsil location through this collaboration.
Renovations will be implemented in stages, with the dessert specialty area and premium supermarket set to debut next year, followed by the completion of the dining-focused food space in 2028.
Lotte Department Store's decision for this significant investment is driven by the growth potential of the Jamsil commercial district and high demand for food purchases. According to Lotte Department Store, VIP customers at the Jamsil food hall make purchases on an average of 30 days per year. Additionally, over 30,000 housing units are planned for redevelopment in the nearby area.
Foreign consumer spending is also rapidly increasing. From January to October 5 of this year, sales from foreign customers at Lotte Town Jamsil doubled compared to the same period last year. Lotte Town Jamsil, which includes the department store and Lotte World Mall, has seen the proportion of sales from customers in North America and Europe rise to 35%.
Sales from foreign customers across all food halls and dining areas at Lotte Department Store have also increased by 50% compared to the previous year. The spending of foreign tourists is expanding beyond luxury goods and fashion to include food and dining, highlighting the growing importance of gourmet content.
This food hall renovation is also the first step in the overall renovation of the Jamsil main building. Lotte Town Jamsil surpassed annual sales of 3 trillion won for two consecutive years until last year, and Lotte Department Store aims to achieve 4 trillion won in sales this year by enhancing the competitiveness of its key stores.
Kim Sang-woo, head of Lotte Department Store's sales division, stated, "The renovation of the Jamsil food hall is a project that redefines the competitiveness of department store food halls in line with the status of Jamsil as a representative shopping landmark in Korea. We will present a luxury food hall that offers world-class gourmet content and spatial experiences, continuing the new leap for Lotte Town Jamsil."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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