Bloomingdale’s to Enter Seattle Market With Third Small Format ‘Bloomie’s’ Concept Store
More details on Bloomingdale’s third Bloomie’s location are coming into focus.
As reported by FN in January, the retailer is set to open its latest small-format store in Seattle this fall at the University Village outdoor shopping mall in the Ravenna neighborhood, located just north of downtown Seattle.
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Now, according to a statement released on Monday, Bloomie’s will officially open the new 19,000 square-foot, two-floor store on Nov. 2. The opening will mark the company’s first West Coast Bloomie’s location as well as the entry of the Bloomingdale’s brand into the Seattle area.
Like the first two Bloomie’s locations, the retailer will carry a range of ready-to-wear and accessory brands such as Veronica Beard, Rag & Bone, Polo, MZ Wallace, Alo Yoga and more. An expansive shoe section will feature brands like Birkenstock, On, and Vince and shoppers can also expect to find beauty brands such as Byredo, Augustinus Bader, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Charles Anderson, director of stores at Bloomingdale’s, said in a statement that the company is “thrilled” to enter the Seattle market. “Although this is our first physical storefront in the area, Bloomingdale’s already has an engaged customer base in the Seattle market,” Anderson said. “We look forward to welcoming those loyal shoppers, and new guests within the community, to our new location.”
To celebrate the grand opening, Bloomie’s will be hosting a series of events and activations to welcome and introduce the store concept to the community. On opening day, shoppers can treat themselves to fashion-themed sweets from local favorite bakery, Jenny Cookies and receive a Retail Therapy Candle set as a gift with any purchase, following the ribbon cutting hosted by Anderson.
On Friday, Nov. 3, cotton candy lovers of all ages can stop by the store and experience a cotton candy artist bringing candy to life through animal creations, as well as pre-packaged cotton candy as a gift with purchase. And, on Saturday, Nov. 4, the Seattle community can bring their four-legged friends to get their photo snapped and strut down the Bloomie’s carpet in partnership with the Seattle Humane Society. Seattle Barkery and The Confectionary will also provide Bloomie’s special treats for the dogs and their owners.
This latest announcement follows the November opening of the second Bloomie’s location just outside of Chicago at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, Ill. The 51,000-square-foot store opened one month after the retailer closed its full-line Bloomingdale’s store in the same shopping mall.
In Aug. 2021, Bloomingdale’s opened its first Bloomie’s store in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va. The 22,000-square-foot, smaller format, store was a departure from the chain’s average department store size, which measures about 200,000-square-feet.
When it opened, Bloomie’s featured a tightly curated assortment of contemporary and luxury brands across men’s and women’s apparel, including denim, active, and intimates; along with shoes, handbags, beauty, accessories, and fine jewelry. It also featured a restaurant and a slew of tech-enabled services.
The concept is a product of Macy’s Inc.’s three-year turnaround strategy, which was announced at its investor day in Feb. 2020. The plan included trimming 125 stores from its total footprint, cutting 2,000 jobs — or about 9% of its corporate workforce — and ramping up investments in both higher-margin private labels and off-price through Macy’s Backstage.
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