Efforts to Save Neiman Marcus Downtown Store Intensify
The local push to save Neiman Marcus downtown is taking a new step that includes potential discussions on financial benefits for the company.
Dallas city manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert and other members of a downtown consortium sent a letter requesting a meeting within the next 10 days, according to a copy of the document obtained by The Dallas Morning News. The letter was addressed to Richard Baker, executive chairman of Saks Global, and others at the company were copied.
“At our in-person meeting with you, we will be prepared to discuss an opportunity that you will find 1) financially beneficial to your company, 2) beneficial to the Neiman Marcus brand equity and the continued support, loyalty and goodwill with your Texas clientele, and 3) creative and doable,” the letter said.
The meeting can take place at a place of “your choosing,” the letter said.
D-FW Retail News
The letter is signed by Tolbert and lists other members of the Dallas Consortium, the group of local city and business leaders seeking to keep the downtown store operating after Saks Global said it would close the site at the end of this month.
“We understand that you have previously publicly stated your desire to close the Neiman Marcus Downtown flagship, but we believe that by keeping it open a few months longer, you will have time to capture the opportunity we wish to discuss,” the letter said.
Background on the Dispute
This is the latest move in a back-and-forth between the group and Saks Global that’s dragged on for weeks. The company first said last month it planned to close at the end of March and cited a dispute with a landlord. A consortium of downtown business and civic leaders was formed to address the landlord issue, and by earlier this month, the city had secured the deed for the property of Slaughter Partners, which had held some of the ground underneath the store.
Saks Global was unmoved and said the decision to close “is final and we are moving forward as such.” It also said the situation is “far more complicated than what the public is being led to believe.”
Tolbert’s letter asks for a response to “the collective group.”
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the efforts to save the Neiman Marcus downtown store are ongoing, with the city manager and other leaders seeking to meet with Saks Global to discuss potential financial benefits for the company. The situation is complex, with a dispute over a landlord and the city having secured the deed for the property. Other retail news in the area includes H-E-B expanding its footprint, Chewy cutting jobs, and HelloFresh closing a site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is happening with the Neiman Marcus downtown store?
A: The store is set to close at the end of the month, but local leaders are seeking to keep it open and are meeting with Saks Global to discuss potential financial benefits.
Q: Why is the store closing?
A: The company cited a dispute with a landlord, but the situation is complex and the city has secured the deed for the property.
Q: What other retail news is happening in the area?
A: H-E-B is expanding its footprint, Chewy is cutting jobs, and HelloFresh is closing a site.
