I think the era of the wide spread 'mall' department store is at an end; I think the 'experience' flagship stores can easily last if companies put the money and effort it.
Les Galleries Lafayette is not going anywhere, nor is Harrod's. This could be that space for us; but yes, HBC would need owners who weren't leeches, and the company needs to shed the majority of its store network. It could, perhaps sustain a dozen 'destination' stores across the country, not 80+
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Let me add, I regrettably think the above is unlikely, and the the store will probably be lost to history, but that's not something to be cheered, but lamented.