Bloomingdale’s to Close Santa Monica Store

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Bloomingdale’s Inc. will close its Santa Monica Place location, a company spokesperson confirmed.

The closure is part of a move by Bloomingdale’s parent company, New York-based Macy’s Inc., to shut 45 stores nationwide by mid-2021, according to CNBC. Nine stores have already closed in the U.S., two of which were turned into fulfillment centers.

Three other California stores will close as a part of this move: Macy’s locations in El Cajon and Richmond and a furniture store in Monterey, according to CNBC.

“While closing a store is always a difficult decision, Bloomingdale’s is proud to have served this community, and appreciates the loyalty of our customers and associates,” a Bloomingdale’s spokesperson said in an email.

The 45 closures are a part of an effort announced by Macy's in February 2020 to shutter 125 stores by 2023. The plan also cut 2,000 corporate positions in an effort to “stabilize profitabil-ity” by saving $1.5 billion annually by 2022.

Macy’s net sales for the third quarter of 2020 dropped to $3.99 billion, compared to $5.17 bil-lion in the same period the year before.

The company’s digital sales grew 27% year-over-year in the third quarter, but the gains could not offset losses at the brick-and-mortar locations, CNBC reported.

“Customers shopped our brands across all channels in the third quarter and responded well to our expanded fulfillment offerings, such as curbside, store pickup and same-day delivery,” the company said in a third-quarter filing note to investors. “Our digital business delivered strong growth and sales in our stores continued to recover.”

Macy’s currently operates 544 department stores, 34 Bloomingdale’s locations, 19 Blooming-dale’s outlets and 166 Bluemercury shops, according to the company’s website.

Bloomingdale’s locations at South Coast Plaza, Century City, Beverly Center, Glendale Galleria and Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, will remain open, the company spokesperson said.

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