Ross-Simons closed their lone Atlanta area location at Phipps Plaza yesterday.
Cranston, Rhode Island-based Ross-Simons closed their jewelry store on the second floor of Phipps Plaza this past Sunday, after what I'm told was 27 years in business there. When Ross-Simons opened, the anchor on its wing was Lord & Taylor Today, it is the Nordstrom wing of the mall, According to a reliable Phipps Plaza source, Ross-Simons wanted to remain in the mall, but sought to relocate to a smaller space but rebuffed by mall owner, Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group. Ross-Simons back of house space was quite large, possibly even as large as their showroom space, given they used to carry more merchandise years ago.
Ross-Simons began a liquidation sale a few weeks ago, before which their adjoining Roberto Coin boutique closed, and I'm told that it was not part of the sale. As of Saturday, discounts as deep at 80% off retail were available on remaining in stock merchandise.
Ross-Simons dates back to 1952, when the first shop opened in Providence, Rhode Island. Today, there are retail stores up and down the east coast, as well as two outlets. While apparently unrelated to the Phipps Plaza closure, Ross-Simons is in the midst of a significant brand overhaul. Over the coming weeks and months, nine of the chain's stores will be rebranded as Sidney Thomas Jewelers (A Luxury Jewelry Experience). According to a source, only four stores will maintain the Ross-Simons branding, including those in Cranston, as well as the two outlets in Potomac Mills (Maryland) and Wrentham, Massachusetts.
Currently, the Sidney Thomas website is just a "Coming Soon" splash page, but I'd expect more content to come online ahead of the store conversions. I'm told Sidney Thomas will be "higher end" than Ross-Simons.
As for what will replace Ross-Simons second level space, I heard a rumor that a rim and tire shop would open. While I hope this is not the case, it would not be a first for Phipps Plaza, as before Arhaus opened, XDC Motorsports, a tire and rim shop, opened in place of Uncle Tai's Asian eatery.
It's worth noting that adjacent to Ross-Simons is a shuttered Coldwater Creek store today operating as Phipps Plaza rugs, clearly a short term lease. With both spaces potentially up for grabs, who might Phipps Plaza have in mind? Phipps Plaza is, of course, the same mall in which Simon leased space beneath the former Niketown to a skatepark and replaced its food court with a mini Legoland theme park.
Will you miss Ross-Simons from Phipps Plaza? What would you like to see open in place of Ross- Simons / Roberto Coin and or Coldwater Creek? Has your Phipps Plaza shopping decreased since the opening of Legoland Discovery Center?