Saks Fifth Avenue: Luxury Goods for Over a Century
A bastion of classic New York grandeur, Saks Fifth Avenue's latest accolade is a nomination for the Luxist Readers' Choice Award for Best Department Store. The century-old purveyor of luxury goods boasts 53 stores in 25 states, as well as a handful of foreign franchise stores. The New York flagship's shoe department is so large that it has its own zipcode.
That same store opened in 1924 under the supervision of owners Andrew Saks and Bernard Gimbel. Within five years, Saks added stores in Palm Beach, Fla; Southampton, N.Y.; and Chicago. Openings followed in West Coast locations like Beverly Hills, Calif., and by 1940, Saks was operating ten stores across the country.
Though the New York flagship's location on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 49th Streets was a residential neighborhood when it opened, the area was transformed into Manhattan's midtown business district by the middle
of the 20th Century. Over the years, Saks' sumptuous window displays became a crucial cog of the Big Apple experience, especially during the holidays. Located next to St. Patrick's cathedral and Rockefeller Center, and only a few blocks from other major attractions like Times Square and Central Park, it's a convenient shopping destination for tourists and New Yorkers alike.
In 1998, Saks was acquired by department store holding company Proffitt's, Inc., which subsequently changed its name to Saks Incorporated. The 2000s brought a handful of franchise locations abroad, including the most recent in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a year ago. Today, the company has 53 stores throughout 25 states.
Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.
