Lord & Taylor Returns to Florida

The Hudson’s Bay Co. (Toronto) has opened a new Lord & Taylor store in Boca Raton, Fla., the first L&T store in Florida in more than 11 years.

The 80,000-square-foot store in Mizner Park is being considered a major test for the brand’s expansion potential.

“This could be the lifestyle shopping-center anchor for the future,” HBC ceo Richard Baker told Women’s Wear Daily. “Venturing outside our core northern corridor creates real opportunities.”

Last year, Lord & Taylor opened new stores in Rockingham, N.H., and Yonkers, N.Y., the chain’s first new stores in 10 years. Next year, it will open a new store in Albany, N.Y.

Lord & Taylor closed 11 stores and exited Florida in 2002, while it was part of the old May Department Store Co. “I would have never left the marketplace in the first place,” said Don Watros, chief operating officer of HBC.

The retailer has been aggressively marketing  its re-entrance for months, in local newspapers, magazines, online and on billboards. The message has been “Dear Boca. We missed you. Love Lord & Taylor” or “Dear Boca, We’re the perfect pair,” with a picture of a pair of shoes.