Bloomie’s to open in Dubai in 2010 

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/22/2008 2:03:00 PM

Cincinnati – Macy’s Inc. said its upscale division will open two Bloomingdale’s stores in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February 2010 – the first Bloomie’s outside the United States.

Two Bloomingdale's locations -- a three-level apparel and accessories store of about 146,000 square feet and a one-level home store of about 54,000 square feet -- will anchor The Dubai Mall, the company said.

The stores are being built in Dubai in partnership with Al Tayer Group LLC, a Dubai-based firm. “Being luxury retail pioneers in the region, we are confident of introducing and operating Bloomingdale's in the UAE to the level of century-long success that it has enjoyed in its home market, the United States,” said Obaid H. Al Tayer, chairman and ceo, Al Tayer Group.

“This will be our company's first overseas location, and we expect to learn a great deal about how our brands translate internationally,” said Terry Lundgren, chairman, president and ceo of Macy's, Inc.

The merchandise assortment and service levels, said Macy’s, “will be similar to Bloomingdale's in the United States, while being sensitive to local preferences and customs.”

The stores will be managed and operated by Al Tayer Insignia, an Al Tayer Group division, under a licensing agreement. Al Tayer Group was represented in the deal by Marvin Traub Associates Inc., while Michael Steinberg “provided strategic support” to Macy's. Traub and Steinberg are each former division principals at Macy's, Inc., the company pointed out: Traub was chairman and ceo of Bloomingdale's; Steinberg was chairman and ceo of Macy's West.