Tony Spring in Defense of Department Stores, and Bloomingdale’s Future

Amid all the retail brick-and-mortar downsizing, consider Bloomingdale’s an outsider. With a full-line store opened in Norwalk, Conn., on Nov. 14 and another coming up next year in San Jose, Calif., there’s a view at the $3 billion, 35-unit Bloomingdale’s toward adding department stores as well as outlets. “Unlike others, we still have opportunities for expansion,” said Tony Spring, Bloomingdale’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Connecticut is another step in looking at the portfolio and evaluating market opportunities for growth.” Bloomingdales in Norwalk, Connecticut.  John Calfoto/WWD Texas, Washington, Michigan and Arizona, where there are no Bloomingdale’s, as well as the Boston area, where Bloomingdale’s has only one store in Chestnut Hill, Mass., would be on the radar. In north Miami, Bal Harbour Shops is expanding and for years pursued Bloomingdale’s. Barneys had planned to move into Bal Harbour Shops, until going bankrupt last August and getting sold, which poses an opportunity. “Today at 35 full-line stores, there is opportunity for Bloomingdale’s to surgically expand compared to its competitive set which is really going into more of an editing mode,” Spring said. “It feels like this is a moment for Bloomingdale’s to capitalize on the unique time in the market. We don’t have too many stores. We

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