Saks Leader: Downtown Neiman's Future in Focus as Merger Advances

The Future of Saks and Neiman Marcus in Downtown Dallas

The merger between Saks and Neiman Marcus continues to evolve, with new opportunities emerging as the future of the downtown Dallas location remains under discussion. While the details are still being finalized, both companies are working closely with local officials to reimagine what the iconic site can become.

Emily Essner, president and chief commercial officer of Saks Global, emphasized that the company is actively engaged in conversations about the future of the store. She declined to provide specific details but highlighted the ongoing collaboration with city officials. “We continue to work with the city of Dallas on reimagining what it can be,” she said during an interview.

The downtown Dallas store was originally scheduled to close at the end of March after weeks of negotiations between city officials, business leaders, and the company. The closure was due to a lease dispute, but an 11th-hour announcement allowed the store to remain open through the holiday shopping season of 2025. This decision came as a relief to many locals and shoppers who had grown attached to the historic location.

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas city manager, shared her optimism regarding the future of the site. “We remain engaged in discussions with officials of Saks Global regarding the future of this iconic, historic location in the core of downtown Dallas,” she said in an emailed statement. “I am hopeful our conversations will remain positive and productive.”

Looking ahead, the store is preparing for a new future that could include a luxury retail experience, curated art exhibitions, and a fashion and event center. These plans reflect the growing emphasis on experiential retail, where customers can engage with brands beyond traditional shopping.

Saks Global finalized the acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group late last year for an enterprise value of $2.7 billion. This merger brought together two major players in the luxury department store market, responding to challenges posed by online shopping and changing consumer preferences. The combined entity now operates around 70 retail locations across the U.S., with some cities featuring only one of the brands. For example, Dallas has Neiman Marcus, while New Orleans has Saks.

Essner noted the importance of North Texas customers in the planned renovations at the Saks store located at NorthPark Center in Dallas. The upgrade was unveiled in February, signaling a commitment to enhancing the customer experience in key markets.

In her role, Essner oversees various aspects of the business, including merchandising, marketing, analytics, e-commerce, and store operations. She mentioned that the integration of teams from both Saks and Neiman Marcus is largely complete. The leadership team maintains a roughly 50-50 split between individuals from each brand, which was a deliberate choice. Former Neiman Marcus CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck left shortly after the merger was finalized.

One of the primary focuses of the merger has been the integration of merchandising systems, which is being rolled out in phases over the coming months. This step is crucial for the company’s strategy, as it allows Saks to share inventory across its brands. “We’re able to meet a lot more customer demand, really serve our customers better,” Essner explained.

Data is another key area of focus for Saks Global, particularly in terms of customer identity and personalization. With roughly 30 million customers, the company is investing heavily in understanding customer behavior and preferences. “Our strategy is really based on the idea of personalization, being able to serve you exactly what you’re looking for,” Essner said. “Having a good understanding of who that customer is and what their behavior is — is really important.”