Saks Fifth Avenue

The story of Saks Fifth Avenue is a chronicle of luxury retail evolution, beginning in 1924 when Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel opened their dream store on New York's Fifth Avenue. For nearly a century, the brand stood as a monolith of high-end fashion, defining the shopping experience for affluent consumers across North America. As the digital age reshaped retail, Saks adapted, eventually splitting its operations in 2021 into two separate entities: the brick-and-mortar 'SFA' and the digital-first 'Saks.com'. This strategic bifurcation was designed to allow the e-commerce arm to operate with the agility of a tech startup, attracting significant venture capital investment and modernizing its tech stack.

The narrative took a massive leap forward in 2024 with the formation of 'Saks Global', a luxury titan created through the acquisition of the Neiman Marcus Group. This merger brought together iconic brands including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman under one umbrella, aiming to dominate the luxury market. However, the journey has faced significant headwinds. In early 2026, grappling with the complexities of the merger and a challenging retail environment, Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its debts and streamline operations. Today, the company continues to serve as a premier destination for luxury fashion, navigating a critical transformation to secure its legacy for the future.