Lotte Department Store’s Jamsil Branch Food Hall to Get Major Overhaul for First Time in 10 Years

[Financial News] Lotte Department Store will completely renovate the food hall in the main building of its Jamsil branch for the first time in 10 years. The plan is to transform it into a “luxury gourmet food hall” of approximately 11,240 square meters (3,400 pyeong) by the first half of 2028 and tap into demand for premium dining.
According to industry sources on the 26th, Lotte Department Store will begin renovation work today on the entire food hall on the first basement level of the main building at its Jamsil branch. The food hall’s major upscale renovation comes about 10 years after the previous one in 2017. Lotte Department Store plans to open it in the first half of 2028 after completing the work in phases.
The renovation is intended to strengthen the competitiveness of Lotte Town Jamsil while also serving as the first step toward a future renovation of the entire main building. Lotte Town Jamsil surpassed 3 trillion won in annual sales for two consecutive years through last year, and aims to reach 4 trillion won in annual sales this year, driven by increased sales to foreign customers.
The Jamsil branch is located in a retail district surrounded by high-income residential neighborhoods, and large-scale housing redevelopment involving more than 30,000 households is also planned nearby, leading to expectations that demand for premium dining will grow further. In fact, VIP customers make purchases at the Jamsil branch’s food hall on as many as 30 days a year, and its average transaction value remains among the highest of all Lotte Department Store locations.
Through the renovation, Lotte Department Store plans to divide the food hall into “EATS” and “BUY” spaces based on how customers intend to use them. EATS will be a dining area where customers can enjoy food on site. In collaboration with well-known domestic and international gourmet brands, it will offer menus exclusive to the Jamsil branch and distinctive services.
BUY will be designed as a space where customers can purchase premium ingredients, ready-to-eat meals and food items for gifts. The premium supermarket will sell high-end ingredients, including Hanwoo beef and fruit personally selected by buyers, and expand delivery services such as direct-from-source delivery. In the takeout area, customers will be able to watch their chosen ingredients being prepared. The food gift area will offer rare ingredients, products created in collaboration with renowned chefs, and gift items for holidays and special occasions.
The food hall will be designed by the U.S. design studio Roman and Williams. The studio, which has worked on the interior design of spaces including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, plans to create a distinctive gourmet space that reflects Lotte’s history and brand identity. Lotte Department Store plans to unveil the dessert hall and premium supermarket first, next year, and complete the dining areas in 2028.
Kim Sang-woo, head of sales at Lotte Department Store, said, “The renovation of the Jamsil branch food hall is a project to redefine the competitiveness of department store food halls in a way that befits the stature of the Jamsil branch, a shopping landmark representing Korea. By presenting a luxury food hall that offers world-class gourmet experiences and a distinctive physical environment, we will continue Lotte Town Jamsil’s new leap forward.”

[email protected] Jang Yu-ha Reporter