Saks Shuts Its New Orleans Store as Retail Shake‑Up Continues
Saks Fifth Avenue Canal Street Outlet to Close in April 2026
The flagship Saks Fifth Avenue on Canal Street will shut its doors in April 2026. The decision follows the parent company, Saks Global Enterprises, filing for Chapter 11 and trimming unprofitable locations nationwide.
Historic Landmark – The New Orleans outlet has been a downtown icon since the early 1980s, reopening shortly after Hurricane Katrina and symbolising the city’s commercial rebound. It occupies a prime spot inside Canal Place, a high‑profile shopping centre that has long relied on Saks as an anchor tenant.
Nationwide Store Closures – Bloomberg reports that the company plans to close nine U.S. stores—eight Saks locations and a Neiman Marcus in Boston. The cuts target sites that struggle to turn profits and are situated in smaller markets with limited growth potential.
Local Impact – Business leaders fear the closure will reduce foot traffic, cut jobs and lower spending for neighboring shops. Chanel left Canal Place earlier this year, and Anthropologie has moved to Lakeside, signalling a shift in the district’s retail mix.
Strategic Shifts – Saks is also eliminating most of its Fifth Avenue Club styling suites and moving the Horchow home décor brand online. The strategy focuses on profitable stores, reduces debt, and encourages more shoppers to use the e‑commerce platform.
Continuing Digital Presence – Even after the physical store shuts down, customers can still explore luxury goods and receive personal styling advice through Saks.com. The company’s email to the press highlighted performance, lease costs and strategic fit as key reasons for the closures.
