There’s some real potential here, to be sure. I think the secret will be creating the right brand ethos: IMHO they will need to hew much closer to Monaco than Las Vegas.

This bold move has some plusses and minuses. It can help to make the store a destination but it can also attract some unsavory types. The casino in Queens that I once performed at had thieves roaming who took $200 from my wife’s wallet and another crew almost stole my harmonicas because they were in a case that looked like something valuable was inside.

A luxury casino that is a destination for those seeking leisure and entertainment could work for Saks in Manhattan — especially as I am sure that the company will manage security and access policy very tightly. In a way, it adds to the theater and spectacle of the department store space. However, this is very much an exception: I don’t think this is viable for many other retailers in most other locations.

What will Saks think of next? This is a novel idea that should drive traffic to Saks’s flagship. Going back to a previous RetailWire discussion, gamblers that have enjoyed a few cocktails will likely be more open to making high-ticket purchases downstairs. It’s all upside for Saks.

Gambling + Retail = Retailtainment at its finest?!? This seems a bit out of place IMHO. A high-end, art deco casino kinda fits, but it takes the Saks brand into an entirely new place.

A big mistake for Saks who keeps trying to add more businesses to its over-stored retail footprint. Citi Field is a much better choice for a casino entity! It’s better for the city and the New York Community and a casino would align better with a sporting/hotel complex.

I think this is the kind of thing that flares at first, and then evens out. The concern I would have is the customer profile expected over the longer run. No doubt, at first, the well heeled customers are going to come and see, and play. There are wonderful casinos in Vegas, but a few of them have lost customers as the customer demographics have changed. My thoughts: caution. It could be fun at first, and then…?

Talk about a differentiator! I worked at Saks many years ago and I love the romantic side of this whole idea. The practical side might get a little complicated. My bingo card for retail extensions did not include opening a casino, but I love this level of out-of-the-box thinking, all while reminding myself that it can go totally off the rails.

This is a unique play at experiential retail. Shopping is a key component of many casinos already, so combining the two is a proven concept. This will also be sure to be a tourism draw to the evolving 5th Ave area as well. I’m sure if Barneys was still around, their hat would be in the mix as well.

This is a unique opportunity. It isn’t for Macy’s or even Bloomingdale’s. The upscale, luxury aspect described makes a powerful statement about what Saks is and the profile they want to project.

Indeed, gambling is a money maker. But this endeavor seems to be more about marketing an idea than the bottom line. Jackets for men, of course. No sneakers allowed, please.

Is the idea that a casino will somehow increase sales at Saks or is a casino simply an independent revenue generator for the property? If the latter, have at it. That’s just what the world needs, an upscale place where rich corporations win and rich people lose.

BUT — if it is meant to impact retail sales, that points to a very sad circumstance for retail generally. We had an item the other day about malls having open bars, staged entertainment and fire pits in the hope of attracting more shoppers. All of this points to a growing desperation. Like using gravy to coverup a lousy meal.

All of these futile efforts, it seems to me, are but a distraction from encouraging people to actually buy something. Should we expect to see malls with slot machines spread throughout? Where there are diversions … traffic ≠ sales!

The odds are this will be a huge success. Will it bolster the Saks brand? I bit skeptical that the people who will come in to gamble will stay to shop. Now that I think about it, any gambling I’ve ever done leaves me not wanting to shop or spend any money for while. Maybe if i won occasionally….

Bottom line: while this will attract traffic to the building, I don’t see lots of cross-spend happening.

Saks Fifth Avenue is a retail brand that is ripe for disruption. Their luxury department business model has remained consistent throughout their 100-plus-year history in NYC. As we have seen, the lines between retail and hospitality entertainment are evolving, transforming, and blurring.

While there may be critics, the Hudson’s Bay Company may be onto something very innovative and creative to change the narrative around Saks Fifth Avenue with an immersive and entertaining casino space. Even historic retailers must reinvent, evolve and transform their brand purpose and narratives. This will draw plenty of interest and traffic into the NYC Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store.

It will be fascinating to see how this plays out.

Why not? Retail business needs a differentiator in the market so why not a casino? It works in Las Vegas, and I don’t see why it would not work here.

I love the idea of an exclusive, luxurious space at the top of the store to align with branding, but I’m not sure a casino does that. I’m open to changing my mind on this one, but no matter how aesthetically pleasing a casino is, I’m just not sure it’s the right move for this type of retailer.

Come on … the retail net gain is going to be small. There may be some branding benefit if things go well over time. The real money here is in the gaming and since that will essentially be an independent venture they are spinning up in one location only, this sounds like a lot of Saks people convincing themselves that in this novelty, they’ve found something brilliant, rather than focusing on improving their craft.

Sure. Let’s have gambling everywhere. When I think of Sakes Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, I think of … new shooter coming out, or putting it all on black….

Sounds like another distraction from the shopping experience. Yet another sign of the apocalypse.