Bloomingdale’s expanding Bloomie’s store concept

Bloomingdale’s is taking its smaller-store format to the Pacific Northwest.

The department store retailer, a division of Macy’s, will open its third Bloomie’s location, at University Village in the Ravenna neighborhood, located north of downtown Seattle. The store is expected to open later this year.

Bloomingdale's debuted the Bloomie’s concept in 2021, with a 22,000-sq.-ft. store in the Mosaic District, a lifestyle center in Fairfax, Va. A second location, a 51,000-sq.-ft. store, opened in October at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, Ill. (By comparison, Bloomingdale’s department stores generally average 150,000 sq. ft. to 200,000 sq. ft.)

“Bloomie’s is designed to be a more convenient and casual concept that fits into our customer’s everyday lifestyle,” stated Tony Spring, CEO, Bloomingdale’s, in a release on the opening of the Fairfax store.  "And, with our staff of stylists, omni services, lively restaurant, and elevated assortment, Bloomie’s can be their favorite neighborhood store.”

The Seattle Bloomie’s will provide a casual, contemporary and highly curated experience, featuring an edit of top brands in a broad range of men and women's categories including apparel, accessories, beauty, giftables and more.

"We are thrilled to enter the Seattle market with the opening of our third Bloomie's location," stated Charles Anderson, director of Stores, Bloomingdale's. "The new flexible store experience has been well-received in other cities as it remains authentic to the Bloomingdale's brand yet brings a new and exciting energy to our shoppers.”

Bloomie’s is part of Macy’s Inc.’s overall three-year “Polaris” strategy that includes closing about 125 Macy’s stores and expanding its off-price, smaller-scale and off-mall retail concepts.

[Read More: Macy’s accelerating growth of its off-mall, small-format store strategy]

Bloomingdale’s currently operates 34 Bloomingdale's stores and 20 Bloomingdale's The Outlet stores, with locations in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with a location in Dubai and Kuwait.

Founded in 1872, the iconic retailer is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

[Read More: Bloomingdale’s marks milestone with virtual store]