Re: Kane’s recent sales – those are good for DTS. Remember that DTS is an Opportunity Zone project, where capital gains can be recycled without tax penalty. Thus, a North Hills property sale frees up cash that can be used to start something in DTS.
Re: Saks closures, Saks is the better known brand name in the north and Neiman (Dallas-based) in the south and west. Maybe the intent is to switch KOP from Neiman to Saks. Boston could also be seen as part of that nameplate rationalization… though usually, decisions made in bankruptcy aren’t so forward-thinking.
In January, Kane Realty broke ground on the six-story Tributary Apartments building, which will feature 332 apartments and 6,000 square feet of ground-level retail space along Hardimont Road, east of North Hills.
I meant to post about this the other day when I saw it, good catch - Kane also included a few more details about Tributary and the two high-rises planned behind it as well. Tributary will apparently have two large courtyards, a digital content studio, and an elevated wellness center. The high-rise residential tower behind it will have a rooftop pool and skyline views, and the mixed‑use building could house a hotel, residences, or offices.
Saks 5th Avenue is closing their store at Triangle Town Center and a whole bunch more Saks stores closing too.
On March 6, 2026, Saks Global announced the closure of the fo lowing Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus
locations:
Saks Fifth Avenue Locations Closing:
1.
Beachwood Place (Beachwood, OH)
2. Wisconsin Avenue (Chevy Chase, MD)
3. Michigan Avenue (Chicago, IL)
4. South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA)
5. Las Vegas Boulevard (Las Vegas, NV)
6. Long Island (Huntington Station, NY)
7.
The Gardens on El Paseo (Palm Desert, CA)
8. Triangle Town Center (Raleigh, NC)
9. North Star Mal (San Antonio, TX)
10. The Mal at University Town Center (Sarasota, FL)
11.
Plaza Frontenac (St. Louis, MO)
12. Tysons Ga leria (Tysons, VA)
Neiman Marcus Locations Closing:
1.
Ala Moana (Honolulu, HI)
2. Topanga (Canyon Park, CA)
3. Westchester (White Plains, NY)
Malls (as a retail model) have been overbuilt, to nobody’s surprise. Losing Saks is a sign that this market, at that particular location, shows that Northeast Raleigh is not supportive to luxury, high-end big box retail. Triangle Town Center is going to require a major re-think with some significant renovations going forward. And, it may very well be that having Sears, Macy’s and Saks now out of the way will give the current owner a chance to do a clean sheet do-over.
Let’s just call it what it is. It’s the wrong location for a luxury mall. On paper it’s near all of this spending potential. In reality, it’s a mall that sits along a long stretch of big box stores, strip centers, car dealerships, novelty adult shops, gas stations, amusements, auto centers, stand alone chain restaurants, etc. It’s also arguably the least interesting and most traffic clogged part of the entire city. It’s the worst of car dependent suburbia that Raleigh has to offer.
That’s why Crabtree is such in a prime location for luxury stores, etc. still praying for the day Gucci comes here. I had a debate with a classmate who thinks we don’t need it and I told him the city should not block a Gucci store from coming here. Even he’s been infected by Nimbyism and xenophobia, and quaint town mentality, it’s got some young Gen Z.
North Hills is good too there both great locations, I’m just guessing Gucci comes to Crabtree because Bharmin opened up a store there. I just don’t want Tim Niles, the Livable Raleigh klan, and other NIMBY and protectionists blocking luxury stores from coming here. And part of it has to do with xenophobia and lowkey racism also.
Again, xenophobia is about prejudice against foreigners, not luxury stores. Xenophobia is what’s behind the narrative that Mexico is sending us their “rapists and murderers” as we’ve heard from our government in the past. Xenophobia is also what’s behind ICE taking out more than just the most dangerous criminal non-citizens. Xenophobia isn’t what’s preventing a Gucci Store from coming to Raleigh.
Market research determines which retailers come to Raleigh. Brands want to know that they have a market to buy their products. They want to know about incomes, growth rates, cultural fit, population density, etc. For instance, a surf shop is going to open on the coast in a popular vacation destination (cultural fit, population density, money to spend) and not in a midwest factory town. Raleigh is gradually attracting more and more brands as the city grows and its purchasing power increases. However, Raleigh isn’t a city filled with celebrities and it remains a very casual and laid back place based on its local culture around education, technology, and a more youthful oriented vibe. It’s not a vacation destination like Nashville or heavy with pro athletes and their families like Charlotte. We aren’t a suit and tie dominant city either. These things have nothing to do with NIMBYism. One can argue about your other points, but they are too subjective and ambiguous IMO for me to want to argue them.
I just don’t see Nordstrom at SouthPoint being the only luxury department store in the Triangle. Maybe I am being too hopeful, but I do think Raleigh (and Cary) have the capacity to support a luxury department store. Considering how well Bloomingdale’s has been doing, I would hope one of their Bloomie’s concepts comes to the area to fill the void. It makes sense to either be at North Hills or Fenton, but I could also now see them in the Belk Men’s store at Crabtree.
I also don’t think Nordstrom would be opposed to a second store in the area.
