Saks Fifth Avenue: When the Flagship Set Sail to Worth Avenue

In 1928, Manhattan’s flagship store, Saks Fifth Avenue, set sail to open its first home away from home on Worth Avenue. Originally located at 300 Worth Avenue, there was once a time in Palm Beach history that the store was only accessible for a small six week period. (Can you imagine?!)

Ninety years ago it was a seasonal affair that dressed the island’s soirees, cocktail hours, polo matches and rendezvous on the beach! Once the temperature rose and the snowbirds left the sunny calm of Worth Avenue for the city bustle of Fifth Avenue, the store closed its doors. In the 70s, however, a familiar house of luxury opened its doors as a permanent year-round home to Saks Fifth Avenue.

When Murray Goodman, real estate developer and philanthropist, completed Esplanade it was a shopping jewelry box filled with gems like Emilio Pucci and Louis Vuitton, who are still there to this day. It was only natural then that Saks Fifth Avenue would find its new home there.

Big things have small beginnings.

What many people may not know is that Saks Fifth Avenue didn’t get its start on Fifth Avenue! In 1867, Andrew Saks opened a small men’s clothing store in Washington, D.C.

Confidently valuing that his work was worthy of a particular clientele, he moved to New York City and opened Saks & Company in 1902 on Sixth Avenue and 34th Street. Upon his passing, his son, Horace Saks, and business partner Bernard Gimble, expanded Andrew’s dream. When they envisioned what would become Saks Fifth Avenue, their desire was to create “a unique specialty store that would become synonymous with fashionable, gracious living.”

It is so fitting that only Worth Avenue, America’s epitome of upscale living, would have the honor of being the first Saks Fifth Avenue not located on Fifth Avenue!

Next time you find yourself strolling down Worth Avenue, be sure to visit Saks Fifth Avenue at Esplanade! (It’s my second favorite stop after Louis Vuitton!)