Who Owns Bloomingdale's?

Brothers Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdale opened Bloomingdale's in New York City in 1861, expanding their father's hoop-skirt and dry goods business on Third Avenue. The store became known for importing European fashions and cultivating an upscale clientele, relocating to its Lexington Avenue flagship location in stages through the 1880s and 1920s.

Federated Department Stores acquired Bloomingdale's in 1930, beginning the corporate relationship that continues today. Under Federated, Bloomingdale's expanded beyond New York into a national chain through the mid-twentieth century, becoming Federated's premium flagship while sister banners including Filene's, Burdines, and eventually Macy's covered other markets.

Bloomingdale's developed a distinctive identity: the Big Brown Bag packaging, designer shop-in-shops, and celebrity-driven marketing made it synonymous with New York fashion culture. It pioneered luxury retail concepts including the first designer boutiques within department stores.

The 2006 Macy's consolidation left Bloomingdale's as the sole premium nameplate when regional luxury banners were rebranded or closed. It launched Bloomingdale's The Outlet in 2009 and the Bloomie's small-format concept in 2021.

Under Macy's, Inc., Bloomingdale's has been the company's growth engine. In fiscal 2025, it delivered 7.4% comparable sales growth, the strongest among the nameplates, with record holiday performance and record Net Promoter Scores, according to the company's annual report.