Department store retailer steps back from the off-price retail game

Off-price retailing is hot, but Neiman Marcus is emphasizing what it knows best.



Neiman Marcus will close 10 of its 38 off-price Last Call stores in order to focus on its full-line luxury department stores. Prior to the news, the retailer has already closed three Last Call outlets this year, including its locations at Allen Premium Outlets, Allen, Texas, and Legacy Place in Dedham, Mass.



"This decision is about optimizing our Last Call store portfolio to deliver the best customer service and freeing up resources to support new initiatives for our full-line Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman channels," said Elizabeth Allison, senior VP of Last Call. "We are investing in our strengths as the clear leader of high-end luxury retail."



The news was not all that surprising. In July, the retailer said it was assessing its Last Call portfolio "to ensure it had the right mix of brick-and-mortar stores and online stores" to meet our customers evolving demands."



The 10 Last Call stores that are being shuttered include the ones at Arundel Mills, Arizona Mills, Great Lakes Crossing, Gurnee Mills, Lenox Marketplace, Livermore Premium, Philadelphia Premium, Philadelphia Mills, and Potomac Mills.



The closings will leave a total of 28 Last Call stores.