With 800 brands and 23,400 square feet for high-end bargain shopping, it’s no wonder that Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH on Glades at Lyons roads was getting a lot of buzz, even before it opened.
The big monument sign went up at the Somerset Shoppes weeks ago. Bright pink announcements were posted on the store’s glass doors, touting the grand opening March 26, and chances to win $100 gift cards every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. before the doors open officially at 10 a.m.
There’s a preview party from 4 to 9 p.m. March 25. And the first 200 shoppers Thursday through Sunday will receive a chocolate bar that could contain a ticket for a $100 gift card, according to the company. Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
“In a 3-mile stretch, you have Lord & Taylor and the iconic Saks and a little down the road with Saks off-brand, this is the investment Hudson’s Bay is making in Boca Raton,” Jonathan Greller, president of outlets, said about the parent company. “We already have four locations on the east coast of southern Florida and this is our fifth location.”
The others are in Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Palm Beach Outlets in West Palm Beach, Town Center Aventura and the Dolphin Mall in Miami.
A pink neon pair of high heels and Meet Your Sole Mate sign marked the spot where workers were stocking the racks in the shoe department last week, and the walls were lined with brand names like Tory Burch, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman.
“We’re in the shoe business, and the signs for men’s and women’s shoes will have the size and percentage off,” said general manager Christopher Bechtel, a longtime Delray Beach resident.
The store will carry women’s shoes, handbags and jewelry, women’s contemporary, and men’s clothes from suits to socks. “We feel very good about the assortment,” Greller said. “We will absolutely offer true fashion at real value. It’s really about good finds every day, the customers looking to hunt for a new find at unbelievable prices.”
Customers can also buy online and return at the store, Bechtel added.
“Saks OFF 5TH revamped everything from the floor up,” and expanded the former Loehmann’s store, Bechtel said. The watchword for the décor is sleek and no frills.
“The space is open and modern and consistent with the new format we rolled out in 2014. This is really the new generation,” Greller said by phone from Miami. “What we like about it is, you can see from one end to the other.”
The store is fully staffed, proving 60 full-and part-time jobs, but Bechtel encourages job hunters to apply at careersatsaks.com.
The brand doesn’t anticipate another South Florida opening this year.
“That is only for 2015, and we will continue to look for great properties,” Greller said. “This store will extend our presence, and we believe there’s a tremendous opportunity to succeed in this location.”
Saks Off 5TH is at 8903 N. Glades Road.
