Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf Goodman Inc.
Company type	Private
Industry	Retail
Founded	January 1, 1899; 127 years ago in New York City, United States
Founder	Herman Bergdorf
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Area served	Primarily New York City
Key people	Ira Neimark (former Chairman and CEO)
Products	Luxury department store merchandise (women's and men's fashion, beauty products, accessories)
Owner	Saks Global (since 2024)
Parent	Saks Global
Website	www.bergdorfgoodman.com

Bergdorf Goodman Inc. is a premier American luxury department store based in New York City, established in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf. As of 2024, the company manages two flagship locations dedicated to women’s and men’s fashion along Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Since 2024, ownership has belonged to Saks Global, a subsidiary spun off from the Hudson's Bay Company.

Origins and formative years (1899–1951)

The origins of Bergdorf Goodman trace back to a tailor shop founded by Herman Bergdorf near Manhattan's Union Square. Edwin Goodman, a young merchant hailing from Lockport, New York, apprenticed under Bergdorf and by 1901 had acquired a stake in the enterprise, subsequently renaming it Bergdorf Goodman. In 1906, the store moved to 32nd Street close to Fifth Avenue, aiming to serve the Ladies' Mile shopping district. After Bergdorf retired to Paris, Goodman purchased his shares outright.

In 1914, the business transitioned uptown with the construction of a five-story building at 616 Fifth Avenue. Goodman was among the first to introduce ready-to-wear fashion within American retail, positioning Bergdorf Goodman as a premier destination for both American and French haute couture. The flagship relocated again in 1928 to its present Beaux-Arts style edifice at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, built on the former Cornelius Vanderbilt II House site.

Although there was initial skepticism about the new location’s potential success, Goodman designed the store with adaptable spaces that could be leased if needed. Early tenants included high-end brands such as Van Cleef & Arpels. Throughout the Great Depression, Bergdorf Goodman expanded its property portfolio by acquiring neighboring buildings and mortgages, thereby securing control over the entire block. Unlike many contemporaries that pursued growth through multiple outlets, Goodman concentrated on upholding superior quality and service through a single flagship store model.

Second generation leadership (1951–1972)

Andrew Goodman, son of the founder, assumed presidency in 1951 and took full leadership by 1953. He enhanced Bergdorf Goodman's prestige while broadening its product offerings and services.

During Andrew's tenure, the store introduced a fur salon under Emeric Partos (1955–1975), launched the popular Bergdorf Goodman Number Nine fragrance, and developed Miss Bergdorf—a ready-to-wear collection aimed at younger clientele.

Major expansions took place: a $1 million project in 1959 extended into adjacent properties to enlarge gift shops, beauty salons, and various departments; another $2.5 million expansion in 1967 nearly doubled the store’s size. Although plans for a Chicago branch were announced in 1965, these were abandoned by 1967.

Transition to new ownership (1972–1990)

In 1971, Broadway-Hale Stores proposed acquiring Bergdorf Goodman; this merger received Federal Trade Commission approval in 1972. Broadway-Hale Stores—later known as Carter Hawley Hale Stores (CHH)—had purchased Neiman Marcus in 1969. At that time of sale, Bergdorf Goodman was the last major independent upscale specialty retailer in the United States; however, its hesitance to open suburban branches constrained profitability. The Goodman family maintained ownership of the building’s real estate and kept a penthouse apartment atop the flagship.

Although CHH initially intended to expand branch locations, only one store opened—in White Plains, New York—in 1974; this location transitioned into a Neiman Marcus outlet by 1980. To modernize its traditional image, Bergdorf hired Dawn Mello as vice president of fashion in 1975; she became president in 1984 and later returned following her tenure at Gucci.

During takeover attempts throughout the 1980s, Carter Hawley restructured financially. In 1987, Bergdorf Goodman was separated along with Neiman Marcus and Contempo Casuals to establish Neiman Marcus Group headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Entering the centennial era (1990–present)

During the 1990s, under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Ira Neimark, Bergdorf Goodman significantly enlarged its women's department on three separate occasions and moved the men's store to 745 Fifth Avenue in 1990, allowing for expanded space dedicated to women's apparel. In 1997, the former Goodman family residence was converted into the John Barrett Salon along with the Susan Ciminelli Day Spa. By 1999, the Beauty Level was unveiled beneath the primary floor, featuring a high-end spa and Goodman's Café.

A comprehensive renovation of the Bergdorf Goodman Building took place in 2002, which included modernizing the women's main floor. The subsequent year saw the introduction of new luxury brand boutiques such as Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent. The men's store showcases exclusive labels including Loro Piana, Kiton, Brunello Cucinelli, John Lobb, Thom Browne, Bontoni, Tom Ford, and Charvet.

On May 2, 2005, private equity firms Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus completed a leveraged buyout acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group and Bergdorf Goodman. Later, in December 2024, Saks Global finalized a $2.7 billion purchase of Neiman Marcus Group, encompassing Bergdorf Goodman.

In media and popular culture

Bergdorf Goodman has been prominently featured in documentary films such as Dita and the Family Business (2001) and Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's (2013), underscoring its significance within the fashion industry. The store has also appeared in movies including How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), That Touch of Mink (1962), Arthur (1981), and Ocean's 8, as well as television programs like Sex and the City and Parks and Recreation, reflecting its status in popular culture.

In 2019, journalist E. Jean Carroll accused Donald Trump of sexual assault occurring within a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room during the 1990s. A jury in 2023 held Trump liable for sexual abuse but not for rape. In March 2024, Trump's mention of Carroll as "Miss Bergdorf Goodman" during an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box led Carroll’s attorneys to threaten a third defamation lawsuit.

External links

Official Bergdorf Goodman website
History of Bergdorf Goodman. Funding Universe
Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's Documentary