A giant video screen and circular staircase surrounded by thousands of faceted mirrors dominates the back of the 33,000 plus square foot store. It is located at 1171 Ste-Catherine St. W., near Stanley St.

The Angels did not land, but a good number of Montrealers stepped out to check out the opening of Victoria’s Secret flagship Thursday.

It’s the biggest VS store in North America, and the second largest in the world at more than 33,000 square feet – and it is wow – an overload of boudoir chic on three storeys, gleaming with thousands of faceted mirrors, giant video screens, red velvet, black and white signature marble and fixtures – and pink everywhere, from the neon frontage to mannequins, bras, panties and merry widows.

While there was no Gigi Hadid, there are renditions or perhaps originals of the model’s butterfly ensemble – and others – from the VS extravaganza fashion show that aired Tuesday night.

You must check out the downstairs fitting rooms, 15 of them, outfitted in French bordello chic, with giant red banquettes for someone’s waiting pleasure. All of Victoria’s Secret collections are there  – Pink, swimwear, cosmetics and sport.

Victoria’s Secret is owned by Limited Brands, which bought Montreal’s La Senza in 2007 and later moved its head office to Columbus, Ohio. The new flagship on Ste-Catherine replaces a Chapter’s bookstore, which prompted “Books to bras” headlines and comments.

Despite the size and evident sizeable investment in the store there were no media interviews or events.

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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: Model Valery Kaufman from Russia walks the runway during the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Lexington Avenue Armory on November 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) *** Local Caption *** Valery Kaufman

Gigi in a butterfly look at Victoria’s Secret fashion show in New York. It will be televised Dec. 8. / Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret

It’s been a long time coming but now we can report that Victoria’s Secret is bringing its second biggest store in the world to Ste-Catherine St. on Dec. 10.

Being a downtowner, I have watched and cursed the never-ending construction on the corner of Ste-Catherine and Stanley Sts. – and I also have managed to sneak a few peeks at the inside – which has a massive video screen at the back. In fact, there will be 45 video screens and 2,000 mirrors – I do have to see this (but I fear the lineup, if the Carrefour Laval opening was an example.)

It will house 33,000 square feet of frillies, plus sport, beauty and swim collections on three floors.

Ste-Catherine St. is indeed in transition; last week Pharmaprix opened a sleek Galerie Beauté – the only drugstore in the world with a Chanel counter; this morning, Ivanhoé Cambridge and The Bay announced a Saks Off 5th for the Eaton Centre (in 2018) – here’s my post; and we’re still waiting for details of the Ogilvy-Holt Renfrew 220,000-square-foot project, scheduled to open in 2017.

Here’s a feature I did on Ste-Catherine St. a while back.

The store is at 1171 Ste-Catherine St. W.

Model and new Victoria’s Secret Angel Monica “Jac” Jagaciak walks the runway during the 2015 Victoria’s Secret fashion show. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret)

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