In 2020, amid the pandemic and societal upheavals, America’s oldest department store, Lord & Taylor, closed all 38 locations after nearly 200 years. Founded in 1824, it was a pioneer in luxury retail but succumbed to bankruptcy due to declining ,
in-store traffic and e-commerce dominance.The pandemic accelerated challenges already faced by traditional retailers. Iconic brands like Brooks Brothers and J.C. Penney also shuttered, reflecting a broader retail crisis as online shopping reshaped consumer habits. Lord & Taylor’s closure symbolizes the seismic shift in the retail landscape.
