Saks Fifth Avenue at Plaza Frontenac will close by late May 2026, cutting 65 jobs

Luxury retailer to exit its only Missouri full-line location

Saks Fifth Avenue is set to close its store at Plaza Frontenac in Frontenac, ending the luxury department store’s decades-long presence at the mall and eliminating 65 positions tied to the location. The company has filed a formal workforce notice with Missouri officials outlining a permanent closure and a range of separation dates for employees in May 2026.

The store, located at 1 Plaza Frontenac Street, is scheduled to shut down this spring, with employee separations listed between May 6 and May 31, 2026. The closure affects the full-line Saks Fifth Avenue operation at Plaza Frontenac, a long-standing anchor within the upscale shopping center along South Lindbergh Boulevard.

What the closure means for Plaza Frontenac

Plaza Frontenac has been defined in part by its high-end anchors, and the exit of Saks reshapes the mall’s tenant mix and foot-traffic dynamics. The Saks store also hosts services beyond apparel sales, including alterations, beauty offerings and in-store styling—functions that can contribute to repeat visits and cross-shopping for nearby retailers.

With Saks leaving, the property faces decisions common to anchor departures: whether to subdivide the space for multiple tenants, recruit a replacement department store, or reposition the footprint for experiential or mixed-use concepts. Any such moves typically require time for design, permitting, and leasing, and can influence occupancy and sales performance across adjacent corridors.

Part of a wider restructuring across luxury retail

The St. Louis-area closure arrives as Saks’ parent organization continues a broader restructuring effort that has included store rationalization and changes to its off-price business. In early 2026, the company’s leadership also underwent a major transition at the top, underscoring the financial and operational pressures facing legacy department-store operators in a softer luxury environment.

While the Frontenac store’s closure is local, it reflects a national pattern: department stores are increasingly evaluating leases, store profitability, and the shifting balance between physical retail and digital demand. Luxury retail, in particular, has had to adapt to changing spending patterns, higher operating costs, and intensified competition for affluent consumers.

Key verified details

• Store: Saks Fifth Avenue at Plaza Frontenac, 1 Plaza Frontenac Street, Saint Louis area (Frontenac), Missouri.

• Status: Permanent closure planned for spring 2026.

• Jobs affected: 65 employees tied to the location.

• Separations: Listed to occur between May 6 and May 31, 2026.

The closing removes one of Plaza Frontenac’s defining luxury anchors and adds to a period of rapid change for department-store retail nationwide.

Store-closing sales, final operating dates for customers, and any backfill plans for the space have not been publicly detailed in the workforce notice filing. Plaza stakeholders and nearby retailers will be watching closely for redevelopment timelines and replacement-tenant announcements in the coming months.