5 Stores That Should Replace Saks OFF 5TH at Charlotte Premium Outlets
Photo: Simon Premium Outlets
In January of this year, Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With it came the closure of several stores, including the Saks OFF 5TH at Charlotte Premium Outlets. With one of the largest retail spaces at the outlet center now sitting vacant and no replacement in sight, an opportunity exists to bring something new to the Queen City. With that in mind, here are five brands that I believe would be well-suited for the space and strong contenders to fill the empty storefront.
Belk Outlet
Founded in North Carolina and headquartered in Charlotte, a Belk expansion into Charlotte Premium Outlets would feel like a natural fit. Not only would it give shoppers another opportunity to support a homegrown retailer, but it would also allow Belk to strengthen its presence in its home state while offering the value-driven shopping experience outlet visitors have come to expect.
Bloomingdale's The Outlet
One would be surprised to learn that Charlotte doesn't have a Bloomingdale's, which is why bringing an outlet version of the store to Charlotte Premium Outlets makes perfect sense. Bloomingdale's The Outlet offers many of the same designer brands at discounted prices that Saks OFF 5TH did, making it a seamless replacement and likely welcome addition to the outlet center.
Crate & Barrel Outlet
As it currently stands, one key thing missing from Charlotte Premium Outlets is a furniture retailer. With Charlotte's continued growth and the large number of residential development projects in the southwest region of the city, including the River District, a 1,400-acre master-planned community located less than five minutes away, now would be the perfect opportunity for a Crate & Barrel Outlet.
While Charlotte already has a Crate & Barrel in the SouthPark area, bringing an outlet location to the city would give residents another option for refreshing their homes while staying within budget.
Dillard's Clearance Center
One of my favorite places to shop in the Charlotte area when I'm looking for a great deal is the Dillard's Clearance Center in Gastonia. However, it's no secret that the store isn't in the best location. It's part of the struggling Eastridge Mall and one of the few remaining stores still operating there.
While the store continues to attract a respectable number of shoppers, its location offers little else nearby in terms of shopping or dining, making it more of an occasional stop than a regular destination for many Charlotteans. A relocation to Charlotte Premium Outlets could give the store a much-needed facelift while exposing it to a larger and more consistent stream of shoppers, which would likely benefit revenue as well.
H&M
I'll admit this recommendation is a bit more selfish than the others, but I do think there's an argument to be made for an H&M location at Charlotte Premium Outlets. Sure, there are already locations in the Charlotte area at Northlake Mall, SouthPark, and Carolina Place, but none of them serve shoppers looking to spend an entire day hunting for deals at the outlet center.
H&M has built its reputation on delivering fashion-forward pieces at affordable prices, making it exactly the type of retailer that would feel right at home alongside the outlet center's current lineup. And let's be honest, can you ever have too many places to grab an affordable outfit before your next Charlotte event?
