Athletic and outdoor apparel retailer returning to Perimeter Mall
Bellevue, Washington-based Eddie Bauer is planning a new store at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody. The new store will be on the upper level of the Macy's wing in the former Sephora store. (Sephora previously relocated to a new, lower level space near Von Maur.) The new Eddie Bauer store will be about 5,500 square feet and is slated to open in early 2016.
Eddie Bauer previously operated a 5,700 square foot store at the mall but closed it in early 2001. At the time of the closure, a spokesperson claimed the space " just wasn't large enough to accommodate Eddie Bauer."
Back when Eddie Bauer first existed at the mall, Nordstrom was relatively new and the mall's other anchors were Macy's Rich's and J.C. Penney. Today, the mall is still anchored by Nordstrom and Macy's (in the Rich's space) but the former J.C. Penney was demolished and rebuilt for Dillards while the Macy's became Bloomingdales, which is now Von Maur. Then Perimeter Mall was owned by Rouse, today it's owned by General Growth Properties (GGP).
This is not the first time a retailer has exited the mall, only to reopen again years later. Furniture and interior decoration retailer Z Gallerie closed its Perimeter Mall location in 2009 only to reopen in a different space in 2011.
Eddie Bauer also previously operated a large store at Mall of Georgia in Buford but it closed in 2013. Eddie Bauer continues to operate full line stores at The Avenue East Cobb and The Avenue West Cobb as well as outlet stores at Sugarloaf Mills and North Georgia Premium Outlets.
Interestingly, personnel at the local Eddie Bauer stores seemed to be unaware that a new store was opening despite many job postings across the internet for the new Perimeter store.
Over the years, Eddie Bauer has gone through a number of ownership changes including at one point being owned by General Mills. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2005, and again in 2009.
Are you excited for Eddie Bauer returning to Perimeter Mall? Who else would you like to see open / return to Perimeter Mall? What is your favorite outdoor apparel retailer?
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