There is really no such thing as a "perfect lineup," but the newest addition to one Buckhead shopping center certainly creates one of the more compelling retail assortments in metro Atlanta.
The new Bloomingdale's outlet will occupy suite 110A, a roughly 24,000 square foot space representing a little more than half of the former Bed Bath & Beyond space. Bed Bath & Beyond closed its Buckhead store in 2023 ahead of winding down operations entirely following its bankruptcy and liquidation. Property owner Regency Centers labels the upcoming Bloomingdale's as "Great Retail" in an updated site plan where the remaining roughly 16,000 square feet of the former Bed Bath & Beyond is marked as "Available." (One thought we have for a possible replacement is REI Re/Supply, a new, thus far two unit discount store that sells lightly used outdoor gear and apparel that REI receives through their trade-in program and store return process.)
Saks opened their nearly 27,000 square foot "OFF FIFTH" store at the center in 2016 taking most of what had since the center's December 1996 inception been a Toys R Us.
Bloomingdale's owner Macy's, Inc. introduced Bloomingdale's the outlet store in 2010 and has slowly grown the off-price division to 20 stores in eleven states including those in Delaware, New Hampshire and Texas where the outlet banner is the brand's only presence in the market. The company also operates one furniture and mattress outlet in New York.
The new Buckhead store marks the brand's first in Georgia.
ToNeTo Atlanta reported February 28 that Nordstrom is opening two new "Rack" stores in metro Atlanta in March, bringing the chain's presence in Atlanta to six units.
"As the off-price market is currently on fire, it is a great time for Bloomingdale's to expand its Outlet concept," said Neil Saunders, Managing Director and Retail Analyst at GlobalData Retail.
ToNeTo Atlanta shared news of the upcoming outlet store with Saunders who added, "Over recent years, Macy's has been growing its off-price stores to help sales, but it probably has a a lot of scope to open more outlets, including stand-alone ones as opposed to those in Macy's stores. The luxury focus of Bloomingdale's is very much aligned with where demand is strongest right now, especially if brands are being sold at a discount."
"The great thing about off-price stores like Bloomingdale's Outlet is that they drive regular footfall. Consumers like to visit multiple times to see what's new and to snag a bargain," Saunders added.
Bloomingdale's outlet stores carry merchandise both from the legacy department store and other merchandise sourced or produced specifically for the off-price channel.
The new store should be open by this coming holiday season.
In metro Atlanta, Bloomingales's currently operates just one full-line store, at Lenox Square in Buckhead. The three level store was reduced from four levels during the pandemic with the lower level now used as a regional call center for Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The company closed metro Atlanta's other Bloomingdale's, previously located at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody, in early 2012. The store reopened in late 2012 as a Von Maur department store.
There are currently 33 Bloomingdale's and three smaller format "Bloomie's" stores nationally.
Macy's announced February 27 it plans to close 150 underperforming stores — 50 by the end of 2024 and the other 100 over the next few years. By 2026, it will have just 350 Macy’s stores, the company announced. At the same time, the company said it will open 15 new Bloomingdale’s stores and 30 new Bluemercury - a boutique skincare retailer it also owns - locations over the next three years.
Have you ever been to a Bloomingdale's the outlet store? What is your favorite off-price retailer? What retailer not currently in metro Atlanta would you like to see enter the market?
Please share your thoughts below.
6 comments:
Nashville by the end of the year. I definitely would’ve thought they’d hit the metro Atlanta market first before any of those but I have a strong feeling they’ll end up here soon. I love them!
Should be a success.
Recently went to the Bloomingdales outlet at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, FL. Great store and good prices! Super excited for them to enter the ATL market.
Correction to this comment-
A store I’d love to see here is Primark. They made their way to Charlotte and are opening in Nashville by the end of the year. I definitely would’ve thought they’d hit the metro Atlanta market first before any of those but I have a strong feeling they’ll end up here soon. I love them!
Bloomies! Bloomies!
There's a real Bloomingdales across the street. The Bloomingdales Outlet sells mostly crap that you wouldn't find at a regular Bloomingdales - just like Saks Off Fifth and Nordstrom Rack.
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