Saks Fights Simon Property to Keep Two Store Locations Open

Bankrupt luxury retailer Saks Global Enterprises is moving to block Simon Property Group from closing two locations in California and New York, a clash that exposes a widening rift between one of the nation’s largest mall owners and one of its most prominent anchor tenants.

Simon is seeking to take over a Saks location at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California and a Saks OFF Fifth discount store at an outlet mall in Woodbury, New York. Simon claims Saks didn’t pay rent and other costs shortly before it sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 13.