Saks Global, the longtime leader of luxury department stores, files for bankruptcy protection

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Saks has been a wheeler-dealer since the 1980s

They bought Hess stores in the south, sold some to Dilliard's, sold some to BonTon which ultimately collapsed.

Major remaining US department stores include Macy's, Nordstrom, JCPenney, and Kohl's, alongside luxury players like Bloomingdale's (which is part of Macy's). Dillard's & Belk too.

Google AI: "J.C. Penney is owned by Catalyst Brands, a joint venture formed in January 2025 that merged JCPenney with SPARC Group. The key shareholders of Catalyst Brands, who originally bought JCPenney out of bankruptcy in 2020, are Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corporation, and Authentic Brands Group.

Initial Acquisition: Simon Property Group and Brookfield acquired JCPenney in 2020 after the retailer filed for bankruptcy, aiming to keep it as a key mall tenant.
Merger with Sparc Group: In 2025, JCPenney combined with Sparc Group (owned by Authentic Brands, Shein, Simon, and Brookfield) to create Catalyst Brands.
Catalyst Brands: This new entity also includes other brands like Brooks Brothers, Aéropostale, and Eddie Bauer, with JCPenney's private labels integrated.
Leadership: Marc Rosen, former JCPenney CEO, leads Catalyst Brands. "

So retailers are dwindling, though brands have been salvaged if they are unique. Nordstrom's went private in 2025. Macy's is downsizing, Kohls' had a good 2025, it appears their independent stores absent malls was a good bet.