Bloomingdale’s Debuts New Format

Bloomingdale’s (New York) will open a new prototype in Palo Alto, Calif. this week. The three-level, 125,000-square-foot space replaces an existing 18-year old, 220,000-square-foot store and represents the 34-unit department store's format going forward.

Inspired by Palo Alto’s tech culture, the new design features a contemporary aesthetic than previous Bloomingdale’s locations. Twenty-five percent of the exterior is glass, providing twice as much natural light as a typical Bloomingdale’s store. The concept centers around 68 designer shops and features 100 new brands.

Bloomingdale’s model of a smaller, upscale department store will be carried to new markets, including the Pacific Northwest, Arizona and Texas, as well as Florida, where the company already operates a handful of locations. According to Women’s Wear Daily, a 120,000-square-foot unit is scheduled to open in Miami in 2016 and a 167,000 square foot store will open in Honolulu next year.