Saks Fifth Avenue to close Polaris Fashion Place store after 25 years, reflecting wider restructuring pressures

A long-running anchor store prepares to exit one of Central Ohio’s largest retail destinations

Saks Fifth Avenue is set to close its store at Polaris Fashion Place, ending a 25-year run that began around the mall’s early years. The closure is expected to take place by the end of April 2026, based on company closure timelines disclosed alongside a broader round of store reductions.

The Saks location has served as one of Polaris Fashion Place’s department-store anchors since the mall opened in 2001, when developers assembled a tenant roster aimed at bringing market-exclusive brands to the north Columbus corridor. Polaris Fashion Place is located off Interstate 71 on Polaris Parkway and has been a major regional shopping destination for Delaware County and northern Franklin County.

Closure tied to a larger restructuring effort

The Polaris closing is part of a wider plan involving multiple Saks Fifth Avenue locations and at least one Neiman Marcus store, announced amid Saks Global’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy process launched in January 2026. Saks Global is the corporate parent that now groups Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus under one umbrella following their merger in 2024.

In statements accompanying the restructuring, the company has emphasized concentrating resources in locations viewed as better positioned for long-term growth. The latest round of closures follows other footprint changes in the broader Saks business in recent months, illustrating the ongoing recalibration underway in luxury department-store retail.

What it means for Polaris Fashion Place

For Polaris Fashion Place, the loss of a legacy luxury anchor creates a high-visibility vacancy at a time when malls nationally are leaning more heavily on a mix of entertainment, dining, services, and experiential retail to sustain traffic. Polaris has maintained a blend of enclosed mall space and adjacent open-air components, and it continues to operate alongside other department-store anchors.

The timing also comes shortly after a major ownership shift. In July 2025, O’Connor Capital Partners consolidated 100% ownership of Polaris Fashion Place and assumed full operational control, including leasing and day-to-day management.

Key facts at a glance

• Store: Saks Fifth Avenue at Polaris Fashion Place (Columbus area)
• Tenure: Approximately 25 years, dating to Polaris’ 2001 opening period
• Expected closing window: By the end of April 2026
• Corporate context: Saks Global is in Chapter 11 restructuring, following the 2024 Saks–Neiman Marcus merger
• Property context: Polaris Fashion Place is now fully owned and operated by O’Connor Capital Partners (since July 2025)

The immediate next steps will center on how the space is marketed and repositioned, and whether a replacement tenant is secured as part of the mall’s broader leasing strategy.

Store-closing sales, employee transition plans, and final operating dates typically vary by location; customers are advised to confirm in-store hours and end-of-operations details directly with the retailer as the April window approaches.