AN iconic department store chain has set out to permanently wipe another popular mall spot off the map this summer.
As Nordstrom shifts its focus to other nearby locations, the mall store will see its final day in less than two months.
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The retail sector is currently being plagued by mass closures, layoffs, and bankruptcies as retailers struggle to adapt to the current economic climate and shifting consumer preferences.
Even major players in the scene are not immune from these changes.
For example, Nordstrom, an iconic luxury department store chain with over 350 locations, is slated to close down yet another popular mall store.
The retail giant is closing its Nordstrom store inside the Saint Louis Galleria this summer after 14 years in operation once its lease ends.
Located at 1453 Saint Louis Galleria Street in Richmond Heights, the store’s last day will be August 24.
The decision to ax the spot was part of Nordstrom’s larger plans to focus more on nearby locations as well as its digital operations.
“We believe we’ll be best able to serve customers in the area by leveraging our surrounding stores and through our digital channels,” a spokesperson told local NBC affiliate KSDK.
Once the location’s lease ends, it would not be profitable to renew, per the spokesperson.
The impending closure will impact 135 Nordstrom employees, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act notice filed on June 20 with the state of Missouri.
“Decisions like this are never easy, and we understand the impact they have on our team members,” said the spokesperson.
“We’re committed to taking care of our employees through this transition, including supporting those who are interested in finding another role within Nordstrom.”
Once the Nordstrom Galleria location shuts down, it will be replaced by Dick’s Sporting Goods, a company spokesperson told local Fox affiliate KTVI.
As the popular mall is closed permanently, shoppers will still be able to shop at the Nordstrom location at the West County Center in Des Peres.
Fans of the department store chain can also hit the Nordstrom Rack stores in the St. Louis region – one at 1585 South Brentwood Boulevard in Brentwood, and another in Manchester at 100 Highlands Boulevard Drive.
US braces for ‘45,000 store closures’
Some 45,000 bricks-and-mortar stores could close in the next five years, experts have warned.
Several major retailers have announced store closures or gone out of business altogether in recent years.
In 2023, chains such as Foot Locker announced plans to close up to 400 outlets by 2026.
While, other well-known retailers like Tuesday Morning and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams filed for bankruptcy in 2023.
Bed Bath & Beyond has closed all of its brick-and-mortar stores and is now an online-only retailer.
The most affected retailers have been clothing, consumer electronics, sporting goods, hobby, book, music, and home furnishing stores since the start of 2019.
UBS has predicted the total number of retail stores will drop by 45k from 958k to 913k.
Despite that, the report says that certain stores should thrive while others decline.
It said retailers such as Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, and Target, could be among the winners.
FASHION FLOP
Nordstrom has faced a number of challenges in recent years, experiencing fluctuations in sales and a decline in market share.
Part of the chain’s struggles can be attributed to rising competition from off-price retailers such as TJ Maxx, shifting consumer habits, and the impact of the pandemic.
Nordstrom’s store model, with a significant portion of its stores located in malls, has also hurt the chain.
Malls and brick-and-mortar stores inside malls have seen a downward trend as shoppers shift their spending to online platforms and seek experiences beyond traditional shopping.
As a result, Nordstrom shut down two mall locations in Massachusetts earlier this year.
The retail giant axed its spot at the Northshore Mall in Peabody, for example, on January 31.
Then on March 8, Nordstrom permanently closed its store at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree.
Similar to the soon-to-be shuttered location in Missouri, the two Massachusetts stores were replaced by Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Nordstrom is not the only retailer grappling with store closures.
For example, a beloved budget retailer is closing five stores in a major US city, leaving shoppers “without other options.”
Meanwhile, a furniture retailer is shutting down 26 stores – and discount sales with 30% off are already underway.
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