Boom Boom Villette

Boom Boom Villette is a 24,000 m² commercial and leisure complex located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France. It occupies the fourth, previously unused bay of the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie building, a structure originally conceived as the grande salle des ventes of the Villette slaughterhouses, a project abandoned in 1974. The center opened on 30 November 2016 under the name Vill'Up, developed by the real estate promoter Apsys with design by architect Michel Macary and construction by Eiffage Construction. At opening, Vill'Up comprised around fifty shops and restaurants alongside leisure offerings including a Pathé multiplex cinema, a space-themed amusement park, and Europe's first indoor free-fall simulator in a shopping center. After a period of store closures, the center announced at the end of 2022 a refocus on leisure and dining. Following two years of renovation and several delays, it reopened on 20 January 2024 as Boom Boom Villette. The revamped venue centers on a 4,000 m² food hall with about twenty restaurants on the ground floor, plus leisure attractions such as Batman-themed escape games, a quiz game, a trampoline and arcade center with bowling, and shuffleboard tables. The Pathé cinema and the free-fall simulator remained open throughout the transition. Boom Boom Villette is managed by Apsys and positions itself as a vibrant destination for food, play, and events, hosting concerts, comedy shows, DJ sets, and family programming.

The site of Boom Boom Villette has a long history tied to the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie in Paris. The building itself originated from a project for the grande salle des ventes (great auction hall) of the Villette slaughterhouses, which was abandoned by public authorities in 1974. When the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie opened in 1986, it occupied three of the building's bays, leaving the fourth bay of about 25,000 m² unused. In February 2005, Jean-François Hebert, then president of the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, launched an open call for private projects to occupy this fourth bay. In 2006, the project by real estate promoter Apsys was selected, based on a proposal mixing a traditional shopping center with cultural leisure (cinemas, new-generation video games), with design entrusted to architect Michel Macary and a projected opening in 2010. Construction by Eiffage Construction began in early 2013 and spanned five years, including a one-year delay caused by a fire on 20 August 2015. The fire mobilized 120 firefighters and 35 vehicles and led to the closure of the Cité to the public until its partial reopening on 9 October 2015 for the Fête de la Science, with work on Vill'Up resuming in November 2015. The Cité des sciences et de l'industrie itself, closed for rehabilitation after the fire, fully reopened in April 2017 for the Terra Data exhibition. Vill'Up opened on 30 November 2016, managed by the commercial real estate company Apsys. At opening it comprised around fifty shops and restaurants alongside leisure offerings including a Pathé multiplex cinema, a space-themed amusement park, and the first indoor free-fall simulator installed in a shopping center in Europe. By the end of 2022, with store closures mounting, the center announced a refocus on leisure and dining. After two years of renovation and several postponements, the center was rebranded as Boom Boom Villette on 20 January 2024. Only the free-fall simulator and the cinema remained open throughout the transition, and the offering is now centered on leisure and relaxation. The venue features a 4,000 m² food hall with about twenty restaurants on the ground floor, Batman-themed escape games, a quiz game, a trampoline and arcade center with bowling, and shuffleboard tables. It also hosts a vibrant events program including concerts, comedy shows, DJ sets, and family activities.

• 2024

  The center is rebranded as Boom Boom Villette on 20 January, featuring a 4,000 m² food hall and leisure attractions.

• 2022

  With store closures mounting, the center announces a refocus on leisure and dining.

• 2016

  Vill'Up opens on 30 November with around fifty shops and restaurants, a Pathé multiplex, a space-themed park, and Europe's first indoor free-fall simulator in a shopping center.

• 2015

  A fire on 20 August mobilizes 120 firefighters and 35 vehicles, causing a one-year delay; work resumes in November.

• 2013

  Construction by Eiffage Construction begins.

• 2006

  Apsys's project is selected, with design by architect Michel Macary and a projected opening in 2010.

• 2005

  Jean-François Hebert, president of the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, launches an open call for private projects to occupy the fourth bay.

• 1986

  The Cité des sciences et de l'industrie opens, occupying three bays of the building and leaving the fourth unused.

• 1974

  The project for the grande salle des ventes of the Villette slaughterhouses is abandoned by public authorities.

A vibrant food and leisure destination in Paris, combining dining, entertainment, and events under one roof.

• Food hall with about twenty restaurants

• Pathé multiplex cinema

• Indoor free-fall simulator

• Batman-themed escape games

• Quiz game

• Trampoline and arcade center with bowling

• Shuffleboard tables

1. 1Boom Boom Villette - Food & Loisirs Indoorboomboomvillette.com
2. 2Boom Boom Villettefr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Boom Boom Villettewikidata.org