Lord & Taylor was an American
department store
A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store under one roof, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store mad ...
chain founded in 1826 by
Samuel Lord. It had 86 full-line stores in the
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States (also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau. Located on the East Coast of the United States, ...
at its peak in the 2000s, and 38 locations at the time of its liquidation in 2021. The
Lord & Taylor Building
The Lord & Taylor Building is an 11-story commercial building in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, that formerly served as Lord & Taylor's flagship department store in the city. Designed by Starrett & van Vleck in the Italian Renaissance Reviva ...
flagship store in
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan is the central portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan, serving as the city's primary central business district. Midtown is home to some of the city's most prominent buildings, including the Empire State Building, the ...
operated from 1914 until 2019, and was designated a
New York City Landmark
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and c ...
in 2007. The chain was owned by many companies in its existence, including
Associated Dry Goods
Associated Dry Goods Corporation (ADG) was a chain of department stores that merged with May Department Stores in 1986. It was founded in 1916 as an association of independent stores called American Dry Goods, based in New York City.
History
...
from 1916–1986,
The May Department Stores Company
The May Department Stores Company was an American holding company of department stores founded in 1877 by David May. It operated several regional department stores throughout the United States, which were managed as distinct business divisions ...
from 1986–2005,
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. (previously Federated Department Stores, Inc.) is an American holding company of department stores. Upon its establishment in 1929, Federated held ownership of the regional department store chains Abraham & Straus, Lazarus (departm ...
from 2005–2006,
NRDC Equity Partners
NRDC Equity Partners (NRDC) is an American private investment firm focused on retail, real estate, and consumer branded businesses.
History
NRDC was founded in 2005 by Robert C. Baker, owner of National Realty & Development Corp; and William L. ...
from 2006–2008,
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
from 2008–2019, and
Le Tote
Le Tote was an online women's clothing rental business in the United States which used a subscription box model. It was founded in 2012 by Brett Northart and Rakesh Tondon. In 2019, Le Tote acquired Lord & Taylor.
Le Tote was one of several com ...
from 2019–2021. The
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...
was sold to the Saadia Group, which attempted to relaunch the brand as a
web store
Online shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser or a mobile app. Consumers find a product of interest by visiting the website of the ...
. Saadia went into default in March 2024, and the intellectual property was acquired by Regal Brands Global that September.
History
Under the Lord family, 1826–1916
English-born
Samuel Lord started a
dry goods
Dry goods is a historic term describing the type of product line a store carries, which differs by region. The term comes from the textile trade, and the shops appear to have spread with the mercantile trade across the British Empire (and Common ...
business in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
in 1824 and opened the original store that would become Lord & Taylor in 1826, on Catherine Street in what is now
Two Bridges, Manhattan
Two Bridges is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, nestled at the southern end of the Lower East Side and Chinatown on the East River waterfront, near the footings of Brooklyn Bridge and of Manhattan Bridge. The neighborhoo ...
. The shop stocked hosiery, misses' wear, and cashmere shawls.
His wife's cousin, George Washington Taylor, joined in 1834, and the store was named Lord & Taylor.
The store continued to grow: it annexed 49 Catherine Street in 1832 and moved six years later to 61–63 Catherine Street.
James S. Taylor, Lord's brother-in-law, replaced George Taylor in 1845.
The company erected a new building at
Grand
Grand may refer to:
People with the name
* Grand (surname)
* Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor
Places
* Grand, Oklahoma, USA
* Grand, Vosges, village and commune in France with Gallo-Roman amphitheatre
* Grand County (disambiguation), ...
and
Chrystie Street
Chrystie Street is a street on Manhattan's Lower East Side and Chinatown, running as a continuation of Second Avenue from Houston Street, for seven blocks south to Canal Street. It is bounded on the east for its entirety by Sara D. Roosevelt ...
s in 1853 and moved into that location the following year.
Lord later named his son John T. Lord and his employee John S. Lyle as partners in the enterprise.
On August 29, 1859, Lord & Taylor opened a second store on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
at
Grand Street in the modern-day
SoHo
SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...
neighborhood, keeping the older store open.
The new store was described as a "five-story marble emporium" and was among Broadway's first major new department stores since the
A.T. Stewart building at
280 Broadway
280 Broadway – also known as the A.T. Stewart Dry Goods Store, the Marble Palace, the Stewart Building, and the Sun Building – is a seven-story office building on Broadway, between Chambers and Reade streets, in the Civic Center neighbor ...
was completed in 1846. At the same time, Lord & Taylor started participating in
wholesaling
Wholesaling or distributing is the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional or other professional business users; or to other wholesalers (wholesale businesses) and related subordinated services. In ...
.
Lord retired in 1862.
Samuel Lord Jr. and George Washington Taylor Lord succeeded the original partners in leading the company.
In 1870, the Broadway store moved uptown to a new
cast-iron building at Broadway and
20th Street, in the area known as the "
Ladies' Mile".
This store was designed by James H. Giles and included one of the first steam-powered passenger elevators.
The new store expanded around 1890 by annexing a building to the east. Lord & Taylor faced economic troubles after the
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that triggered an economic depression in Europe and North America that lasted from 1873 to 1877 or 1879 in France and in Britain. In Britain, the Panic started two decades of stagnation known as the "L ...
, though the original partners gave the company "a large loan" in 1879. By 1894, the company was fast-growing and would open stores on
Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the borough (New York City), borough of Manhattan in New York City. The avenue runs south from 143rd Street (Manhattan), West 143rd Street in Harlem to Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. The se ...
in 1903 and 1906.
The downtown store continued to function, expanded through to
Forsyth Street
Forsyth Street runs from Houston Street south to Henry Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The street was named in 1817 for Lt. Colonel Benjamin Forsyth.
Forsyth Street's southernmost portion, south of Canal Street, runs para ...
and advertised until at least 1887 as a new building. Samuel Lord's estate sold the Grand Street store in 1901.
The
Lord & Taylor Building
The Lord & Taylor Building is an 11-story commercial building in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, that formerly served as Lord & Taylor's flagship department store in the city. Designed by Starrett & van Vleck in the Italian Renaissance Reviva ...
, the
Starrett & van Vleck
Starrett & van Vleck (often spelled Starrett & Van Vleck) was an American architectural firm based in New York City which specialized in the design of department stores, primarily in the early 20th century. It was active from 1908 until at least ...
-designed
Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the borough (New York City), borough of Manhattan in New York City. The avenue runs south from 143rd Street (Manhattan), West 143rd Street in Harlem to Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. The se ...
store and headquarters opened between 38th and 39th streets on February 24, 1914. It touted many modern improvements, including an electric delivery vehicle garage; elevator and hidden conveyor systems for moving goods, people, showcases, and trash, and for loading and unloading trucks; and an on-site electrical generation and heating system. The Broadway store was quickly sold after the new store opened on March 26. The new store became a
New York City Landmark
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and c ...
on October 30, 2007.
[Percival, Marianne (October 30, 2007]
Lord & Taylor Building Designation Report
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the Government of New York City, New York City agency charged with administering the city's Historic preservation, Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting Ne ...
. pp. 1–2.
Lord & Taylor announced in November 1915 that it would sell off its wholesale business.
Under Associated Dry Goods, 1916–1986
A founding unit of
Associated Dry Goods
Associated Dry Goods Corporation (ADG) was a chain of department stores that merged with May Department Stores in 1986. It was founded in 1916 as an association of independent stores called American Dry Goods, based in New York City.
History
...
, Lord & Taylor was considered to be its
crown jewel.
In 1945,
Dorothy Shaver
Dorothy Shaver (July 29, 1893 – June 29, 1959) was the first woman in the United States to head a multimillion-dollar firm. She was a well known leader of the fashion industry.
Life
Dorothy Shaver was born in Center Point, Arkansas, in Howard ...
became the first woman to head a major retail establishment in the United States as president of Lord & Taylor.
As vice president working with the well-known design firm of
Raymond Loewy
Raymond Loewy ( , ; November 5, 1893 – July 14, 1986) was a French-born American industrial designer who achieved fame for the magnitude of his design efforts across a variety of industries. He was recognized for this by ''Time'' magazi ...
Associates, she opened what is credited as the first-ever branch store, in
Manhasset, New York
Manhasset is an affluent Hamlet (New York), hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore of Long Island, in New York (state), New York, United States. It is co ...
. Unlike earlier forays into the suburbs that consisted of smaller boutique-style shops, this merchandising effort became the model for modern suburban shopping. The store consisted of 66 individual shops. Lord & Taylor's relationship with Raymond Loewy Associates continued until 1969, following the construction of the
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford () is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, outside of New York City. It is the sixth-most populous city in New England. Stamford is also the largest city in the Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, Weste ...
store (designed by Loewy Vice President
Andrew Geller
Andrew Michael Geller (April 17, 1924 – December 25, 2011) was an American architect, painter, and graphic designer. He is widely known for his uninhibited, sculptural beach houses in the coastal regions of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticu ...
). Many of Lord & Taylor's special services, including personal shoppers, were introduced while Shaver presided. During this period she introduced the Andrew Geller handwritten logo and the American Beauty Rose as icons of the store. Shaver died in 1959.
William J. Lippincott was elected chairman and chief executive in 1972. His obituary in ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' read: "In his years as president and chairman, Lord & Taylor moved beyond its traditional territory in the northeast to open stores in Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas and four stores in Illinois." A management shakeup ousted him in 1976.
Under the leadership of CEO Joseph E. Brooks during the 1970s, the company aggressively expanded into
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
, and
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
; throughout the 1980s,
South Florida
South Florida, sometimes colloquially shortened to SoFlo, is the Regions of the United States#Florida, southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the two others are ...
saw 11 stores opened in quick succession.
Under May Department Stores Company, 1986–2005
When the
May Company acquired ADG in 1986, it was assumed that May bought it just for the luxury division.
The chain partially withdrew from the oil-shocked Texas and southern Florida markets in 1989–1990 after its 1986 acquisition by May. Under May, the upscale
Hahne & Co.,
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's was an American department store chain founded in 1861 by John Wanamaker. It was one of the first department stores in the United States, and peaked at 16 locations along the Delaware Valley in the 20th century. Wanamaker's was pur ...
, and
Woodward & Lothrop
Woodward & Lothrop was a department store chain headquartered in Washington, D.C. that began as the capital's first department store in 1887. Woodies, as it was often nicknamed, maintained stores in the Mid-Atlantic states, Mid-Atlantic United St ...
chains were refitted and converted into Lord & Taylor.
Jane T. Elfers became Lord & Taylor's second female president in June 2000. Former
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus is an American department store chain founded in 1907 in Dallas, Texas by Herbert Marcus, his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband Abraham Lincoln Neiman. It has been owned by Saks Global, a Corporate spin-off, spin-o ...
executive, Brendan Hoffman replaced her in October 2008, when Elfer's contract had expired. A third female president,
Bonnie Brooks, took over in 2011, and a fourth female president, Liz Rodbell, took over in 2013.
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. (previously Federated Department Stores, Inc.) is an American holding company of department stores. Upon its establishment in 1929, Federated held ownership of the regional department store chains Abraham & Straus, Lazarus (departm ...
acquired May Department Stores in 2005. On January 12, 2006, Federated chairman, president, and CEO
Terry Lundgren
Terrence James Lundgren (born March 23, 1952) is an American business executive who retired on January 31, 2018, as executive chairman of Macy's, Inc. the parent company of fashion retailers Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Bluemercury. He had served ...
announced that Lord & Taylor would be sold by the end of the year. Federated announced on March 10, 2006, that six Lord & Taylor locations would be sold or downscale into Macy's.
The legendary Center City, Philadelphia store, the former flagship of the
John Wanamaker
John Wanamaker (July 11, 1838December 12, 1922) was an American merchant and religious, civic and political figure, considered by some to be a proponent of advertising and a "pioneer in marketing". He served as United States Postmaster General ...
chain, opened after a one-month renovation as
Macy's City Center on August 1, 2006.
Under NRDC Equity Partners, 2006–2008
On June 22, 2006,
NRDC Equity Partners, LLC announced it would purchase Lord & Taylor for $1.2 billion after Federated converted and sold the previously announced locations; the sale was completed in October 2006. Federated continued to service Lord & Taylor consumer credit accounts in an agreement with NRDC under the terms of its sale until mid-2007.
Under Hudson's Bay Company, 2008–2019

On July 16, 2008,
NRDC Equity Partners
NRDC Equity Partners (NRDC) is an American private investment firm focused on retail, real estate, and consumer branded businesses.
History
NRDC was founded in 2005 by Robert C. Baker, owner of National Realty & Development Corp; and William L. ...
announced that it had purchased the 338-year-old
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
(HBC) for an undisclosed price to expand internationally and positioned Lord & Taylor under HBC. The combined HBC, as of February 2018, consisted of
Hudson's Bay and
Home Outfitters
Home Outfitters (known as Déco Découverte in Quebec; originally called Bed, Bath & More) was a Canadian retail home decor chain, owned by Hudson's Bay Company established in 1999, that sold bedding, towel
A towel () is a piece of absorption ( ...
in Canada,
Galeria Kaufhof
Galeria Kaufhof GmbH was a German department store chain, headquartered in Cologne. It was a member of the International Association of Department Stores from 1930 to 2010, with various CEOs acting as presidents of the Association over time.
Un ...
in Germany, and Lord & Taylor and
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue (Colloquialism, colloquially Saks) is an American Luxury goods, luxury department store chain founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks. The first store opened in the F Street and 7th Street shopping districts, F Street shopping distric ...
in the United States.
HBC committed to spending an additional $250 million upgrading stores. The
Fifth Avenue flagship store received a $150 million ($ in ) update in 2010. In 2011, an ultra-modern concept store opened in Westchester County at the new
Ridge Hill Mall
Ridge Hill, formerly known as Westchester's Ridge Hill is a mixed-use lifestyle center located between Interstate 87 and the Sprain Brook Parkway in Yonkers, New York. With its grand opening in 2011, Ridge Hill features a variety of retail stor ...
. During this time, locations such as
Manhasset
Manhasset is an affluent hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered the anchor community of the Greater Manhasset area. The population was 8,176 ...
,
Garden City,
Bala Cynwyd
Bala Cynwyd ( ) is a community and census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located on the Philadelphia Main Line in Southeastern Pennsylvania and borders the western edge of Philadelphia at U.S. Rou ...
,
Eastchester, and
Stamford all saw ultra-modern style renovations and upgrades. In 2012, a large outpost opened at
The Mall at Rockingham Park
The Mall at Rockingham Park is the largest shopping mall in the state of New Hampshire, with of floor space. The mall is located in the town of Salem, about north of Boston. The mall is adjacent to Interstate 93 and the former Rockingham Park ...
. In 2013, a contemporary-style outpost opened at
Mizner Park
Mizner Park is a high-end shopping, residential, and entertainment district located in the affluent downtown neighborhood of Boca Raton, Florida. The district consists of a collection of high-end shops and restaurants with luxury apartments buil ...
in
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton ( ; ) is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 97,422 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and it ranked as the 23rd-largest city in Florida in 2022. Many people with a Boca Raton Address, ...
. In 2014, a $20 million ($ in ) contemporary outpost, modeled after the Boca Raton location, opened at
Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall is an enclosed, automobile-oriented, super-regional shopping mall located in the Albany, New York suburb of Guilderland. It is the largest indoor shopping center in the Capital District, and the third largest in the State of N ...
near
Albany, NY
Albany ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldest city in New York, and the county seat of and most popu ...
. Around this time, a store was announced to open alongside
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue (Colloquialism, colloquially Saks) is an American Luxury goods, luxury department store chain founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks. The first store opened in the F Street and 7th Street shopping districts, F Street shopping distric ...
in the luxury wing of the
American Dream Mall. In March 2017, Lord & Taylor partnered with Brideside.com to launch an in-store bridal shop.In April 2017, Lord & Taylor completed a $12 million ($ in ) renovation plan at the Fifth Avenue store. In October 2017, after an attempt made to build a skyscraper above the Fifth Avenue store, it was announced the building would be sold in a joint partnership to
WeWork
WeWork Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a provider of coworking spaces, including physical and virtual shared spaces, in approximately 600 buildings in 125 cities.
WeWork was founded in 2010 by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey. Ove ...
for $850 million ($ in ). WeWork was set to occupy the uppermost floors of the building, with the rest remaining a flagship space for Lord & Taylor. This was part of a trend on Wall Street to maximize profits and real estate value. In February 2019, the sale completed for $725 million ($ in ) in cash and the remainder in equity, forming a joint venture with Lord & Taylor as minority owners. Industry observers connected the sale of the flagship store to intense activist investors and opportunity seen to monetize real estate at HBC.
On April 1, 2018, the
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
gave notice of the theft of customers' credit and debit cards due to a
hacking incident. A hacking group known as JokerStash or Fin7 attempted to sell the information from five million stolen customer credentials on
dark web
The dark web is the World Wide Web content that exists on darknets ( overlay networks) that use the Internet but require specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. Through the dark web, private computer networks can communica ...
sites during the last week of March 2018. The company noted that most compromised records were from Lord & Taylor and
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue (Colloquialism, colloquially Saks) is an American Luxury goods, luxury department store chain founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks. The first store opened in the F Street and 7th Street shopping districts, F Street shopping distric ...
customers. The Hudson's Bay Company noted that customers would not be liable for any charges incurred due to this breach, and they will offer no-cost
credit report monitoring
Credit report monitoring or company tracking is the monitoring of one's credit history in order to detect any suspicious activity or changes. Companies offer such service on a subscription basis, typically granting regular access to one's credit h ...
and identity protection services.
In May 2018,
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...
began carrying Lord & Taylor fashions on their website to modernize Walmart and position it more upscale. This was a bold move praised by many as being innovative.
Under Le Tote, 2019–2020
In August 2019, Le Tote, Inc. purchased the retailer for million ($75 million) in cash on closing and an additional million ($25 million) two years later. HBC was to get a 25% equity stake in Le Tote. The buyer would retain the stores' inventory, with an estimated value of million. The deal, expected to close before year-end, required HBC to pay the stores' rent for at least three years, at an estimated million ($58 million) cash per year. The acquisition was completed in November 2019.
In November 2019, the sale to Le Tote was finalized and it was reported that all 38 Lord & Taylor brick-and-mortar locations would transfer ownership.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Lord & Taylor's stores were forced to close due to
executive
Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to:
Role or title
* Executive, a senior management role in an organization
** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators
** Executive dir ...
state orders
A state order, or national order, is an order that is granted by a sovereign state as part of its national honours system. These orders, which are generally awarded to recipients for their accomplishments, are typically categorised as either orders ...
by the local and
state governments
State most commonly refers to:
* State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory
**Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country
**Nation state, a ...
on non-essential
retail
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is the sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholes ...
by Wednesday, March 18, 2020, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
On December 31, 2019, China announced the discovery of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan. The first American case was reported on January 20, and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Secreta ...
. While it took some time for the locations to reopen to the
public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...
, some of its closed U.S. stores were looted following the
murder of George Floyd
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black American man, was murdered in Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old White police officer. Floyd had been arrested after a store clerk reported that he made a purchase using a c ...
.
Lord & Taylor began the process of reopening on Friday, May 15, 2020, with two of its locations in
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
and
New Hampshire
New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
allowed to reopen. All stores resumed operations by July 3, 2020.
On August 2, 2020, Lord & Taylor and
Le Tote
Le Tote was an online women's clothing rental business in the United States which used a subscription box model. It was founded in 2012 by Brett Northart and Rakesh Tondon. In 2019, Le Tote acquired Lord & Taylor.
Le Tote was one of several com ...
had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
On December 31, 2019, China announced the discovery of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan. The first American case was reported on January 20, and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Secreta ...
. On August 3, it was reported that the company would simultaneously solicit bids for its
Le Tote
Le Tote was an online women's clothing rental business in the United States which used a subscription box model. It was founded in 2012 by Brett Northart and Rakesh Tondon. In 2019, Le Tote acquired Lord & Taylor.
Le Tote was one of several com ...
and Lord & Taylor businesses.
That very same date, Lord & Taylor announced that it would close 19 stores and then added another 5 locations to the list on August 20. Finally on August 27, Lord & Taylor announced that it would close all of its stores and go out of business after almost 200 years. It had 38 stores at the time of the announcement.
On October 15, 2020, Saadia Group, LLC announced it would acquire Lord & Taylor which would then transform the retailer into a digital first format. On Saturday, February 27, 2021, the remaining 19 stores closed.
Under the Saadia Group, 2020–2024
In October 2020, the investment firm Saadia Group acquired Lord & Taylor; they transformed the retailer into a digital-first format. In fall 2022, an ad campaign called "Fall Fete" debuted alongside a new logo.
However, Saadia Group faced financial difficulties leading to a default on their obligations.
Under Regal Brands Global, 2024–present
In 2024, Regal Brands Global acquired the intellectual property of Lord & Taylor.
''Business of Fashion'' reported in December that Regal plans to bring back the brand as an online discount luxury retailer, along with selling licensed Lord & Taylor branded products which will be distributed online and in department stores. There are plans for the return of physical stores, however these are longterm plans.
In early 2025 a licensing agreement was signed with The Kersheh Group for a sleepwear line to be distributed in the United States, and other categories to be distributed in Canada.
SaksWorks
In August 2021, it was announced that
SaksWorks
Saks Fifth Avenue (colloquially Saks) is an American luxury department store chain founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks. The first store opened in the F Street shopping district of Washington, D.C., and expanded into Manhattan with its Herald Squa ...
, a partnership with
WeWork
WeWork Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a provider of coworking spaces, including physical and virtual shared spaces, in approximately 600 buildings in 125 cities.
WeWork was founded in 2010 by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey. Ove ...
and a
spinoff of the
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue (Colloquialism, colloquially Saks) is an American Luxury goods, luxury department store chain founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks. The first store opened in the F Street and 7th Street shopping districts, F Street shopping distric ...
brand, would provide
co-working spaces for technology startups and services for other enterprises. It was predicted that SaksWorks would fill about 90% of the former Lord & Taylor brick-and-mortar locations since
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
still owned the
real estate of the properties.
Logos
File:Lord and Taylor.svg, Logo handwritten by Andrew Geller
Andrew Michael Geller (April 17, 1924 – December 25, 2011) was an American architect, painter, and graphic designer. He is widely known for his uninhibited, sculptural beach houses in the coastal regions of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticu ...
, used before 2015 and during the Le Tote
Le Tote was an online women's clothing rental business in the United States which used a subscription box model. It was founded in 2012 by Brett Northart and Rakesh Tondon. In 2019, Le Tote acquired Lord & Taylor.
Le Tote was one of several com ...
ownership in 2020, re-used in 2024 under Regal Brands Global ownership
File:Lord & Taylor 2015 logo.svg, A slightly altered Logo introduced by Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
(former parent company), in use from 20152019
File:Lord & Taylor 2015 logo 2.svg, The 20152019 era logo originally introduced by Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
(former parent company); was reissued/reused by Saadia Group from 20212022
File:Lord & Taylor 2019 logo.svg, alt=Logo introduced by Hudson's Bay Company (former parent company), in use from 20192020, Logo introduced by Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
(former parent company), in use from 20192020
File:Lord & Taylor 2022 logo.svg, Logo introduced by Saadia Group, used from 2022-2024
Gallery
File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14783.jpg, Lord & Taylor in Westchester
File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14762.jpg, Lord & Taylor in Westchester
File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14765.jpg, Lord & Taylor in Westchester
File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14764.tif, Lord & Taylor in Westchester
File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14770.jpg, Lord & Taylor in Westchester
File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14775.jpg, Lord & Taylor in Westchester
File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14779.jpg, Lord & Taylor in Westchester
File:(King1893NYC) pg854 LORD & TAYLOR, ORIGINAL STORE, CATHARINE STREET.jpg, Catharine Street store
File:New York by sunlight and gaslight - a work descriptive of the great American metropolis; its high and low life; its splendors and miseries; its virtu (1882) (14593294599).jpg, 20th Street and Broadway
File:Lord and Taylor.jpg, Lord & Taylor Flagship at 424 Fifth Avenue
File:901_Broadway_exterior_view.jpg, Exterior view of the remaining section of the 1870 store at Broadway and 20th Street.
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord and Taylor
1826 establishments in New York (state)
2021 disestablishments in New York (state)
2008 mergers and acquisitions
2019 mergers and acquisitions
Retail companies established in 1826
Retail companies disestablished in 2021
American companies established in 1826
American companies disestablished in 2021
Companies based in New York City
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020
Defunct department stores based in New York City
Hudson's Bay Company
Macy's, Inc.
May Department Stores
Midtown Manhattan
Shops in New York City