Shopkeeper Xavier Ruel, who had arrived from Lyon, began by selling a few hosiery items. He soon realized that, even with a rotating sales force, the best sales were always made at the corner of rue de Rivoli and rue des Archives. So, in 1856, he decided to set up store there. In 1855, an unusual event reinforced his destiny. As the Empress drove past Eugenie's store, the horses in her carriage suddenly bolted. Xavier Ruel threw himself at their head and managed to subdue them. He is awarded a sum of money for this heroic act. In 1866, he leased most of the building at 54 rue de Rivolie. Three floors were devoted to sales. Xavier Ruel died in 1900, leaving behind a company with eight hundred employees. In 1912, the Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville was transformed, giving the BHV most of its structure, crowned by its famous rotunda. You know the rest of the story...
