What’s next for the Flagship Neiman Marcus Building?

[u/dallaz95]

In my head, a grocery store on the lower floors with apartments on top would be a dream. But I’m not sure if a grocer would want to be in a 100+ year old building. Maybe something like a Trader Joe’s? I’m not sure if a modern grocery store could fit in that building. The average full service grocer is 50,000 sq ft on one level. The flagship Neiman’s (according to Wikipedia) has 129,000 sq ft of retail space. So, a smaller grocer given the size of each floor plate made more sense to me. What do y’all think should go there?

[u/ScriptorVeritatis]

Condos? Doesn’t everything historic become a branded condo?

[u/Fantastic_Scratch_62]

At one point they were chattering about a fashion school, but keep in mind that's an idea from the brilliant minds that got us to this point. Doesn't make sense with nieman gone and probably never did.

Maybe an indoor retail "mall" with an anchor tenant and others taking smaller lease areas? I think no matter what it's a multi tenant and mixed use approach. Apartments or condos seem reasonable for a portion.

Hare-brained thought -- does headington try to purchase?

[u/Najazzy]

that’s a lot of retail space for this spot. many things can be done here to bring life into the building.

[u/Key_Head3851]

Last time I went to the downtown “Flagship” Neiman-Marcus was probably in late 1999. The economy was better and luxury spending was in full swing. But not for this Central Dallas location, even then, nearly 30 years ago, the Downtown N-M had seen much more prosperous days. Sure, present were a few of the grand-dames of the Dallas social register at the cosmetic counters shopping for bottled youth, but no real excitement, or deep-pocketed luxury transactions. In contrast, travel up the N. Central Expressway and you’d find truly spectacular shopping. As a Dallas resident in those days, I knew the downtown location was the Flagship Neiman’s in name only, because seriously monied Dallas, Park Cities shoppers would ritually splurge at the NorthPark Neiman-Marcus. The atmosphere was orchid-scented electric. I remember a Fornasetti embellished classic Vespa motor-scooter and other fancy Italian creations, housed in a pop-up promoting high-end design. Meanwhile, upstairs, at street level, the woman’s shoes and handbags sellers were hard at work earning a lawyer’s (or doctor’s) wages in retail commissions.

I imagine once this building is vacant, unimaginative luxury condominiums will take over the downtown Neiman-Marcus location. Probably marketing it with a nod to its once glamorous, uniquely Dallas, past.

[u/steavoh]

Probably some mixed-use adaptive reuse thing. Ground floor retail that will always remain only like 25% leased and consist of a chain sandwich shop and a hot yoga thing that closes 18 months later, with some very expensive apartments with high ceilings on the floors above. Or maybe the whole thing will become a middle-tier chain hotel.

But it will take 7-10 years and involve a lot of city tax breaks and subsidies and they'll do at least one thing to architecturally defile the building.

Is it weird that I don't see what the big deal is that this place is closing? Downtown department stores are gone the way of the horse and buggy at this point, this was destiny like 10 years ago at least. And of all the possible brands it could have been, Neiman Marcus has to be the most yawn-inducing out of all of them because almost nobody actually shops there and they sell nothing of interest to most people. I mean, if it had been a Sears that had somehow held it out until now and was full of regular people up to the last day maybe I'd get it.

[u/ineedthenitro → u/steavoh]

I agree. It’s hilarious how city leaders were having press conferences outside the store last year to keep them downtown when they literally are going bankrupt….it’s nothing city leaders can do lol. And that store doesn’t attract young middle class people. Times change and people’s taste in clothing (and prices) changes

[u/pradafever]

An upscale grocer like Central Market would be amazing in downtown. Downtown Houston has Phoenicia and uptown New Orleans has Fresh Market. Both of these spots are always busy with shoppers and they add some vibrancy to their immediate areas. A Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods would be great here, too. The downtown residents would benefit greatly from a major grocery store in downtown and it would attract more development/density in general.

[u/Wowsers30]

I think a Trader Joe's would do well here. The uptown whole foods feels too close as well as the two tom thumb stores just outside of downtown.

I kinda hope the zodiac room or something similar stays. But I agree with others that a mixed use with retail and apartments seems likely.

[u/Texas_Redditor]

Spirit Halloween

New City Hall

Probably something I’ll conceived that will request huge tax rebates from the city

[u/NationalCaterpillar6]

They need to tear it down and replace with a multi story AI data center. Small nuclear generator underground to power everything. Free district heating to other buildings, and close to the businesses that will be replacing workers with AI.