Dallas’ downtown retail identity isn’t losing its crown jewel just yet.
After months of uncertainty surrounding the historic Neiman Marcus flagship at 1618 Main Street, owner Saks Global says the store will remain open beyond the 2025 holiday season as talks continue with the city on a potential reimagining of the nine-story property, the Dallas Business Journal reported. The announcement is the latest sign the company isn’t rushing to shutter the landmark.
Saks, which acquired Neiman Marcus Group late last year in a $2.7 billion deal, said in a statement that it is “committing to serving its loyal customer base in Dallas” while planning unfolds into next year.
That reassurance follows a whiplash-inducing end to last year, when Saks targeted a January closure before bumping the date to March.
The prospect of losing a pillar of Dallas retail — the store opened in 1907 and helped cement the city’s fashion credentials — triggered a civic pushback rare for the department-store sector. City officials, business leaders and even developers stepped in, arguing that the flagship is essential to Main Street’s identity and downtown’s momentum.
Those efforts paid off. Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert said the city “celebrates” the extension and will continue working with Saks Global Executive Chairman Richard Baker on a long-term path to keep Neiman’s downtown. Tolbert noted the store’s role in elevating Dallas as a global retail destination and said its presence remains woven into the neighborhood’s cultural fabric.
Still, questions linger about what to do with the real estate. At more than 100,000 square feet and nine floors, the building offers flexibility.
Concepts floated in recent years include an events venue and a fashion museum honoring Neiman’s legacy.
Meanwhile, Saks is planning roughly $100 million in renovations at the Neiman’s store in NorthPark Center, underscoring a broader reinvestment strategy even as the future of downtown’s location is unresolved.
The timing adds a layer of urgency. Dallas is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and reassessing aging real estate across downtown. What happens at Neiman’s will feed directly into that conversation.
— Eric Weilbacher
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