Lotte Department Store to Renovate Jamsil Branch Food Hall for First Time in 10 Years

A 3,400-Pyeong Luxury Food Hall to Open in 2028
Building a “Luxury Gourmet Destination,” Designed by Roman and Williams

Lotte Department Store will transform the food hall in the main building of its Jamsil branch into a “luxury gourmet destination.” Starting with the food hall, the company plans to renovate the entire main building in phases to strengthen the competitiveness of Lotte Town Jamsil.

Lotte Department Store said it will begin renovating the food hall on the first basement level of the Jamsil branch’s main building on October 26. This will be the first renovation of the entire food hall since 2017, a decade ago. Covering approximately 3,400 pyeong, the project is targeted to open in the first half of 2028. A dessert hall and a premium supermarket will be introduced first in 2027, followed by the phased opening of dining spaces in 2028.

The main building of Lotte Department Store's Jamsil branch, located in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Courtesy of Lotte Department Store.

The space will be divided into “EATS,” where customers can enjoy food on-site, and “BUY,” where they can purchase food or select gifts. EATS will offer a wider variety of gourmet experiences, reflecting demand from VIP customers visiting Lotte Town Jamsil as well as domestic and international tourists. The department store will bring in gourmet brands from Korea and abroad and offer exclusive menu items available only at the Jamsil branch.

BUY will feature a premium supermarket, prepared foods, and a dedicated food-gifting area. The “Premium Super” will sell Korean beef and fruit selected and sourced directly by the department store’s buyers, and will enhance its delivery service, including direct shipments from production areas. The “Takeout” zone will expand its “ultra-fresh live content,” allowing customers to watch their selected ingredients being prepared on-site. The “Food Gift” zone will offer a range of special packages, including ultra-rare ingredients from around the world, limited-edition products created in collaboration with renowned chefs and dining establishments, and products for holidays and special occasions.

The space will be designed by the U.S. design studio Roman and Williams, which has worked on spaces such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Lotte aims to naturally weave its heritage and distinctive stories into the spatial experience, creating a “high-end food hall” with a unique gourmet identity exclusive to the Jamsil branch.

The investment is aimed at the purchasing power and demand for food hall services in the Jamsil area. According to Lotte Department Store, VIP customers at the Jamsil branch’s food hall shop an average of 30 days a year. Their average spending per transaction is also among the highest across Lotte Department Store locations. The company expects demand for premium food to grow further, with redevelopment planned for more than 30,000 homes in the surrounding area.

Lotte Town Jamsil has generated annual sales of more than 3 trillion won for two consecutive years through 2025. It is expected to join the 4 trillion won annual sales club in 2026, bolstered by an increase in sales to foreign customers. Kim Sang-woo, head of sales at Lotte Department Store, said, “The renovation of the Jamsil branch’s food hall is a project to redefine the competitiveness of department store food halls in a way befitting the status of the Jamsil branch, a shopping landmark representing Korea. We will introduce a luxury food hall offering world-class gourmet content and spatial experiences, continuing the next phase of growth for Lotte Town Jamsil.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.