The Odd Man Out: Belk, Dillard's, or J.C. Penney?

After our blog yesterday, we received several communications concerning the three remaining anchor stores in Florence Mall: Belk, Dillard’s, and J. C. Penney. Is one or more of these once huge retail giants about to leave the Shoals? It’s a sad possibility, and according to some who claim to know, it’s a given. Let’s look at them and see what those “in the know” have to say…

Belk: The store we know as Belk started out as two separate mall stores - Pizitz/McRae’s and Parisian. Through a series of purchases, both McRae’s and Parisian became part of the Belk lineup. Depending on what site you consult, Belk is a middle range store for middle class customers or a marginal high end department store for those who are slightly more affluent.

Many locals have complained that Belk in Florence doesn’t measure up to its counterpart in Huntsville, but that’s always been the way of local stores. Amenities aside, is Belk about to say hasta la vista to Florence? The chain closed a Birmingham store recently, but hasn’t hinted to investors that any massive closings were in the works. Local employees have told us if Belk should close, it will be news to them. The bottom line here seems to be: If you like Belk, visit from time to time to make a purchase; it can’t hurt.

Dillard’s: The management of the chain that bought out Castner-Knott likes to rank the stores on a level with Nordstrom. Really? Still, just one year ago, Dillard’s faced a financial crisis when its stock plummeted 15%. Last month the company announced that a small handful of under-performing locations would close in May.

Several local employees have stated that Dillard’s has until the end of this calendar year to up sales or fold tents. Perhaps the most intriguing tale to come out of local speculation concerns a makeover for the store. For some time before it closed, Madison Square Mall in Huntsville housed a Dillard’s Clearance Store. Could one of these be coming to our mall? Would anyone really want it? If some think Belk looks like a thrift store, what would they make of a Dillard’s clearance outlet?

J. C. Penney: The value based department store has announced the closing of 27 various outlets for 2019. None of the closures is in Alabama. If 27 sounds like a lot, the number is still much smaller than other announced closings in recent years.

Penney goes back the longest of the three departments stores, even counting the older Shoals incarnations of Belk from 50 years ago. That means a large percentage of the population has a store credit card and a personal history with Penney. That didn’t keep Sears from closing, but it should certainly make Penny think twice about leaving the Shoals market.

Conclusion: No one can say which of these three iconic brands will close first, if at all. Yet, the rumblings around Dillard’s local foundation are not an encouraging sound.

Sheffield Belk 1946 (Who Knew Colbert County Had This Many People?)