Henri Bendel Closes For Good, Is This The End Of An Era?

Bella Breakdown

For girls who grew up dreaming about glamorous department stores with personal shoppers and shiny packages, Bendel’s was an iconic part of this dream. Those who watched Gossip Girl religiously, ahem…me, know that Bendel’s was a lifestyle for girls on the Upper East Side, like Sak’s, but with a younger audience.

Unlike other big department stores, Bendel’s attempted to hold on to its niche New York audience in some unusual ways, including eliminating sales of apparel altogether eight years ago. The store became a mecca of handbags and jewelry, signaling a period of change for the iconic brand.

In 1985, the store was purchased by L Brands, the owners of Victoria’s Secret. Without the nationwide reach and accessible pricing of other department stores, Bendel’s was almost forced to see out to a more marketable structure. The store even decided at one point to stop carrying other fashion brands, and to only carry and market Bendel products.

Unfortunately, the attempts at re-branding were futile, and Bendel’s had to shut its doors once and for all. One January weekend, Bendel Girls from all over New York flocked to the Fifth Avenue store to say goodbye, and to pick up their final Bendel bags and boxes.

“I was such a Bendel Girl,” said Deb Huberman, a Manhattan journalist. “I learned how to put makeup on at the Chanel counter — they taught me how to do a smoky eye 10 years ago.”

For now, Bendel Girls will have to rely on memories of their experiences at the famed store.