Woman pays $1,300 a night to stay in store window

A $1,300 prank list for a night in a store window backfired after an American tourist took it.

The online listing was meant to serve as a joke as part of the Art Basel international art fair in Switzerland, but the stunt took an unexpected direction when a user took up the offer to stay at the Kleinbasel Leihlager store on Feldbergstrasse.

Gawin Steiner, a member of the Leihlager team, told Swiss media: “This was all just a marketing gimmick, at no point did we assume anyone would actually book or come.”

The window was originally listed at $3,393, but the woman’s caring hosts renegotiated the bill and the tourist checked in on June 14.

Steiner explained, “She booked for three nights and we renegotiated the price a bit.

“Now Night in the Showcase is only $1,337.”

After being surprised to receive a reservation, the team had to scramble to make preparations for their guest.

Steiner said, “We built scaffolding out of laths and put it up like a wall,” adding, “It would be a bit strange otherwise.”

The rent also comes with a small office space and would look quite chic and modern.

Along with classic mid-century modern furnishings, it has its own TV and, of course, a panoramic view of the parking lot across the street.

But the store clearly didn’t want anyone to confuse the space with similar windowed rooms with women exhibited and offered in the Netherlands.

Steiner said: “We don’t want to give the wrong impression, like some shop windows in Amsterdam or Hamburg.

“The bed was in a back room and is never used. Most of the rest of the furniture and plants are from our private homes.”

She added: “The effort was worth it and somehow this project made us feel like we were part of Art Basel.”

It is unclear at this time whether the American managed to get a good night’s sleep, with local media reporting that the street where the store is located becomes very busy from 9am.

It is also currently unclear whether the Leihlager store plans to list the rental for the Basel art fair next year.

Steiner said, “I don’t think it would work next year. I can’t imagine the feeling of sleep being that good.”

This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.