Cheers to the Future of Shopping?

Neiman's Bubbly Vending Machine

Saks Fifth Avenue bought the ailing Neiman Marcus in December 2024 and immediately closed the flagship store in downtown Dallas. This sent shock waves through Texas, which, as you know, is a very big state. It's not like there was much business. Shoppers prefer the Neiman's in North Park Center, Dallas' biggest and most upscale retail destination. 

Here in Houston there has not been a department store downtown since the mid-priced Foley's closed in 2013 (after becoming a Macy's in 2006). Ironically that Foley's was the last downtown American department store built from the ground up (1947).

Worthy of its own postcard

There are still 35 Neiman Marcus locations nationwide, and one is in Houston's Galleria Mall. I went there on Saturday for lunch. Neiman's still has a restaurant, "Mariposa", on the third floor, tucked between Better Sportswear and Children's Wear. My friend and I both grew up with mothers who loved nothing more than a nice department store lunch, often with their daughters in tow. Our mothers didn't know each other, but we suspect they would have been friends as well.

On the first floor, heading to the escalator, I passed a Moet & Chandon vending machine dispensing splits of Brut ($27) and Rose´ ($35), maximum 2 bottles per person, must be consumed on premises. I didn't see glasses, but I presume they would somehow be dispensed. I can't imagine they would be dispensed with.

On the second floor landing was a more conventionally stocked bar, the vending achieved by an associate. 

It's pretty clear what is happening here.

Many moons ago, when I worked at Nordstrom in this same mall, there were exclusive evening shopping hours for their high rollers. Entry was by invitation only, soft music permeated the store from the in-house pianist, complimentary hot and cold hors d'oeuvres were passed by uniformed waiters as was gratis liquor. The later the hour, the more had been consumed and imbibed, the greater the sales. I was told the sound of cash registers ca-ching-ing may have drowned out the piano.

I was never assigned to sell on those nights. Nordstrom associates worked on commission, and there were high rollers in that group too. But I often worked the next day or days after. That's when the returns came in. Buyer's remorse. Most likely very relaxed, slightly blitzed buyers.

Of course the booze makes you linger longer and open your pocketbook wider. Neiman's is making you pay for the booze, but the idea's the same.

The retail world has been waiting to see how Saks will navigate Neiman's recovery and how they will deal with malls, such as Houston's, where there is also a Saks. A former Neiman's executive doesn't think it makes sense to have both “unless you’re going to push one more toward accessible luxury and one toward pure luxury.”  

So what's the definition of accessible luxury, and what's pure luxury??? A question for another time...