Bucking the trend among department stores to shrink their brick-and-mortar footprints, Belk will open three new stores and remodel 12 more as part of a nearly $40 million capital improvement plan. The first two new stores, in Evans, Ga. and Bowling Green, Ky., are scheduled to open in October 2017; the third store, in Hagerstown, Md., is set to open in 2018.
Additionally, Belk plans to invest nearly $10 million for remodels of 12 existing stores across its 16-state footprint, and use an additional $15 million for capital improvements such as parking lots, paint and roofing.
The new stores will feature buy online/pick up in-store services, phone charging stations and a service desk located at the store entrance to handle functions such as gift wrapping, returns and Belk Rewards Card payments.
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“We really want to be an asset to the communities in which we operate,” said Belk CEO Lisa Harper in a statement. “Our goal — and really, our hope — is to build lasting relationships with our customers and associates.”
The 292-unit department store chain, founded in 1888, remained family-owned until 2015, when it was acquired by Sycamore Partners for $2.7 billion.
