This week, workers began breaking up the sidewalk in front of the old Loehmann’s store. Photo by Berkely.
We’ve now heard from several tipsters about a possible tenant for the old Loehmann’s space on Broadway between 73rd and 74th street, but we haven’t been able to confirm the news. According to multiple readers who have spoken to employees at the North Face next door and the Bloomingdale’s Outlet two blocks away, the old Loehmann’s will become a Saks store.
Gretchen tells us it will be a Saks Off Fifth discount store, which means Broadway in the 70’s could become a kind of discount retail alley. Saks did not respond to our request for confirmation. The company has been expanding in the city in the past year or so.
Welcome to the Mall of America = NYC
That’s always where I tell people I live. I used to live on 91st. Wish I could put my current apartment on my current block but in the low 90s. It’s still cute up there. In fact, shops/eateries I would have liked opened months – in some case days – after I moved out. sonofa…
I live there (here, i mean). Better than most, worse than some. Plenty of complaints, but no regrets.
NY Times predicted this in the 80s.
That is sooooo true! Omg! The end of a residential Upper West Side! And all the mom and pops that went along with it! It’s a sick, mall like time in this city! People who come from the suburbs clamor for this wanting the convenience of walking to different venues without driving.
Yes!
I prefer Saks Off Fifth to Bloomingdale’s Outlet. This is destination shopping on high-octane.
There goes that neighborhood.
It’s like any outlet store! Not very good quality! Go to the original store considering we have them right here in NYC!
I really don’t understand the objections to Bloomie’s Outlet or Saks Off Fifth when Loehmann’s was here for decades. What’s the difference? One remainderer vs. another?
And now there are 2; Bloomingdale’s Outlet is two blocks away.
If Saks does move in, I truly hope the merchandise is several steps up from the sorry samples in the Bloomingdale’s outlet.
Sorry to say, they won’t be. Outlets Never are. The quality is not the same! Good for people who can’t get to original store but we have them right here in Manhattan!
Love to come to WSR, read an article about a positive change to the neighborhood, and read all the bitching.
I just read your Wikipedia entry.108 years old AND STILL FUNNY.
Boo…Enough with clothing stores and especially those which are discounted but still expensive, because of designer labels,to many of us. I would have preferred a Home Goods. We don’t have enough stores for home furnishings. Gracious Home is overpriced and Bed Bath and Beyond is limited.
There’s a homegoods on 100th and columbus.. Why add another in the neighborhood? Doesn’t make sense for business. Wouln’t you like a hobby lobby.. Perhaps a Ross discount store or a christmas tree shop?
I hope Saks Off Fifth has better stuff than Loehmann’s and Bloomingdales Outlet, the latter being really cheap junk stuff. I’m pretty sure that, similar to Loehmann’s any of these cheap fabric, poorly made ‘designer’ discount stores will not last, despite supposed financial backing of Luxury Retailers. Replacing Loehmann’s with Saks Off Fifth does not add more retail to the hood. Do the math -1+1=0. I’d like to see Nordstrom Rack replace Bloomies Outlet, which is wasting prime retail space and frustrating us UWS Shopsters.
This is all to the good for 2nd Time Around, the designer resale outlet on
W. 72 between West End Avenue and Broadway. Their offerings in high-end clothing, shoes, boots, jewelry, pocketbooks etc. are far superior to any of these big retailers, at a FRACTION of the price.
I have a billion dollar wardrobe now thanks to 2nd Time Around and in fact am dating a billionaire! Any woman that wants to dress well for less owes it to herself to check out this amazing place. There is just no comparison to any of the outlets—it’s a best kept secret I am happy to share.
Do you enjoy working there?
Not everyone is a paid shill. People actually have opinions about where they shop and dine. Second Time Around has beautiful clothes and 2 locations.
I agree with Christina. Home Goods would have been perfect for this spot.
Do you guys go on break together?
I think I love you.
I lived near two Off-Fifth stores in Scottsdale Arizona. They mostly had crap. Either super ugly actual Saks stuff in bizarre sizes or merchandise made for discount market. What a disappointment. You can get the same clothes are TJ Maxx on a good day. Thought they sell nice housewares and dishes.
Christina’s looking for Housewares.
Why can’t we get a real store rather than yet another junky outlet? I live here and am dismayed to see my neighborhood become destination shopping for unwanted merchandise.what a waste of space that Bloomies outlet is…just awful.
I wish for a Barnes&noble or a real Nordstrom or a Homegoods..something with quality, something interesting. I happened to pass that Marshalls …so depressing..how do they pay the rent? Why are they there?? We could actually use more century 21 housewares type merchandise..like the downtown store.So many worthwhile merchants could fill that spot ..why not a creative store like Dover Street Market…upscale and swoon-worthy.
Fyi, 2nd time around is nowhere near a Real consignment shop..customer share is only 40% and their selection is so tacky.
you can just walk over to the shops on Columbus, where we’ve been “blessed” with a never ending supply of stores that appear to contain three pieces of merchandise consisting entirely of flimsy white tops and black trousers, all artfully displayed on hangers carefully spaced apart so that they don’t touch, being sold for hundreds of dollars apiece.
(I miss Harry’s Burritos)
Sounds dubious – there’s already a Saks Off Fifth on 57th Street between Park and Lex.
A really huge TJ Maxx or Marshall’s with a great selection of stuff (unlike the palty 77th Street and 100th Street stores) would be welcome, not a Saks Off Fifth. We have plenty of high priced stores I never frequent, including the new Bloomingdales where Urban Outfitters used to be. I never see people in the discount Barneys. This is not that kind of neighborhood.
My wishes for a Container Store will apparently fade and die.
Wow!
Saks on the UWS !!
Now all we need is a violin trio to play outside Saks ……….GIVING US …………………..
an UpperWestSide version of ‘Saks ‘n’ Violin(ce).
🙂
I was hoping that CB2 would open there — the closest one is on 3rd and 58th street. funky and nice furniture/housewares for less $$. could use that cool factor on the UWS
That’s a great idea…also container store would be great…but it’s not a huge space so that might influence who moves in. Btw, the Barney’s is lovely and elegant and NOT discount…it’s a Barneys “co-op” ..a smaller version of the big store. Many of us would love to see more upscale merchandise in our neighborhood. Who said the UWS had to be home to discount low-end junk??
@Cjberk, the neighborhood shopping has bifurcated into 2 extremes: luxury and crap. This is troubling to me. I want neither luxurification nor crapification.
This past weekend I traveled to Cold Spring for a visit. I did my gift shopping for nice presents while there. I used to do that shopping on the UWS and miss it.
Dannyboy..i totally agree. Other neighborhoods
Have achieved this mix …why can’t we? Oh well….
that’s a shame. Mount Sinai was supposed to open offices there. I guess they got out-bid. That would have been nice since their other offices are in the 90s. Plus, really, two outlet stores next to each other? What is this – New Jersey?
Mt. Sinai is going on to the 2nd floor. The laundry around the corner will lose part of its space to accommodate an exit for the clinic.
“The laundry around the corner will lose part of its space…”
Don’t get me started on laundries.
I would have liked Broadway Panhandler or something like that.
kind of ironic that many suburbs/small towns within commuting distance now have a better collection of Mom & Pops than the old neighborhood.
But doesn’t that make sense because the owners probably live near their businesses. That is not the case on the UWS now. I can remember when local teens worked in the small shops we had. Those days are gone.
Bestest!
best!
How disappointing!
Bloomingdale’s and Sak’s apparently not concerned that “outlet” stores in Manhattan will cannibalize the regular stores?
Not too long ago, designers and retailers wanted the “outlet” stores far away from the regular store.
BTW Nordstrom’s (regular not rack) is supposed to be opening on 57th Street in one of the new billionaire buildings.
The addition of a Saks outlet suggests that there will be more vehicle traffic (delivery, Uber etc) and more crowds on the subway/at the station.
More “destination” chain stores helping to transform an actual neighborhood into an outdoor mall. Hard to believe that the UWS was once known for bookstores.
There has already been additional traffic since Trader Joe’s opened. Shoppers come by subway; some come in cabs.
Question: Do those who come in cabs still manage to save money on this excursion?
LS..it would be great if outlet stores actually carried quality merchandise but that’s not the case. It’s basically junk ..so I don’t understand why the UWS is their chosen location. We deserve better. We’d welcome a bookstore/cafe etc. I have a feeling Saks will not open ..they are too smart to cheapen their image ..they’re already on E.57th.
I have a sickening feeling that Saks will open. The idea of destination shopping is real on the UWS. I have spoken with many restaurateurs who say that customers drive over the GWB and park either in a garage or Amsterdam to eat in nyc.
Traditional rules for retail do not apply anymore with the advent of online shopping. You are lucky to get anyone into a brick and mortar store.
Our zoning on the UWS stresses high density residential and only provides for small retail space suitable for old fashioned local department stores like Woolworth’s of the 1950’s. Without the availability of large retail space, the outlet stores provide excellent local presence and are good advertising for the chains since there is little billboard space on streets of the UWS.
Very enlightening. So that’s what’s up!
Damn, with real estate prices so high and rents even higher you would think we could afford a real Bloomingdales or Saks!
Better patronize, Tip Top, Town Shop, Laytners, and Harry’s, those are the last of the mom and pops that help define the UWS as we knew it.
My lovely wife just returned home with a gorgeous swimsuit from Town Shop: attention Shoppers!
Second Time Around is a good place to get stuff cheap. However honestly their stores in other nabes are better than the two UWS branches. I suspect that is cuz the UWS is the not first choice of the young and hip to live these days.
As far as these crappy stores we are getting from Saks and Bloomies, if you want the good stuff Barney’s is right there. But do you ever see anyone in Barneys? Me neither.
I think I’m going to vomit.
We need to have a memorial service to say our goodbye’s to the character and convenience of the Upper west side.
It’s reached that point now.
Prediction…
In 2025 WSR reports the return of all mom and pop shops to the UWS. WSR readers bemoan the loss of banks, pharmacies and retail chains.
I’ve lived on the UWS for over 40 years. It’s still a diverse, wonderful part of Manhattan to live in with great food, good shopping and natural resources. Has it changed? Of course. Life is about change. Is it worse now? Not by a long shot.
Bravo! Bravo!
What we need next is a Chucky Cheese.