Belk to open new retail concept in a Charlotte mall after it debuted out-of-state
Belk will debut its latest retail concept in its hometown at Northlake Mall this weekend.
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On Saturday, Aug. 8, the Charlotte-based department store chain will celebrate the grand opening of Belk Market within its current location at 10 a.m. at the north Charlotte mall, multiple local media outlets reported Thursday. Belk officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment from The Charlotte Observer.
The smaller-format Belk Market stores combine traditional Belk apparel with national and private labels specific to those stores. Belk Market sells an assortment of brands in men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, as well as shoes, handbags, accessories, home décor and fine jewelry, with frequent merchandise rotation, according to the company’s website.
In December, Belk Market debuted at The Centre at Preston Ridge in Frisco, Texas, and The Grove at Wesley Chapel in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
It’s the latest reinvention for the 138-year-old department store company that emerged from bankruptcy five years ago, just a day after filing.
Three years ago, Belk opened its first outlet store in Greeneville, Tennessee. Belk Outlet sells clearance items from larger Belk stores and high-end brands that were previously unavailable at stores. There are now over a dozen outlet stores in 12 states, including at Northlake Mall and Eastridge Mall in Gastonia.
Belk has continued to face faced significant turbulence in recent years, marked by multiple leadership changes and a high-profile legal battle.
Lisa Harper, the company’s first non-family CEO since 2016, was succeeded in July 2021 by longtime executive Nir Patel, who departed less than a year later. Belk subsequently sued Patel and GameStop, alleging the theft of employees and proprietary data. The case was voluntarily dismissed in 2022 with undisclosed settlement terms. In 2022, Don Hendricks replaced Patel as CEO.
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In 2024, Belk moved to strengthen its financial position by restructuring over $950 million in debt and securing $485 million in new financing, granting certain lenders increased control.
The company has about 17,000 employees and nearly 300 department stores in 16 Southeast states.
Belk has been an anchor at Northlake Mall since the shopping center opened in 2005.
The department store’s move comes as Northlake Mall also recently underwent major changes.
In March 2025, Augusta, Georgia-based Hull Property Group finalized a $39 million acquisition of the 1.1-million-square-foot mall. The sale followed a tumultuous period for the property, which fell into receivership in 2021 and faced high-profile security concerns and financial instability.
Hull Property Group has since emphasized a strategy of “flexible redevelopment tactics” to revitalize the space. Trendy fashion retailer Kultivate and Prime Jewelers are expected to open soon, according to the mall’s website.
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