Belk debuted its first outlet store this year and has plans to open at least five more this spring. But so far, North Carolina and the department store’s hometown in Charlotte aren’t on the list.

There was a time when stepping into a department store felt like entering a world of affordable luxury. In the 1960s, these spaces weren’t just places to shop — they were experiences, decked ...

Since 1992, department store sales, excluding discount department stores, have declined 62%, dropping from $82.5 billion to $32.4 billion in 2022, while retail overall has tripled.