Sunset Park's 'Saks Off Fifth' Opening This Week

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — Saks Off Fifth will be opening its Sunset Park store on Oct. 13, the company announced this week.

The outlet store, part of the Saks Fifth Avenue corporate family and located at 850 3rd Ave., is a 31,000-square-foot space inside the refurbished Liberty View Industrial Plaza, according to the retailer.

The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and is advertising discounts of up to 70 percent on some items.

As a promotional deal, from Oct. 13 through Oct. 16, the outlet's first 50 customers could win a $100 store gift card.

Salmar Properties purchased Liberty View Industrial Plaza in 2011 from the New York City Economic Development Corporation for about $10 million, as reported by The Real Deal. The site also reported that Salmar sunk $100 million into renovations at the formerly vacant property, which has also inked development deals with Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon.

According to The Real Deal, Salmar agreed to use 85 percent of the 1.1-square-foot Plaza space for "light industrial uses," while 15 percent would be set aside for other ventures, such as retail.

“Salmar looks forward to developing this site into a Class A building that will help generate jobs and keep industry in New York City,” Salmar co-owner Marvin Schein reportedly said in 2011.

"We are proud to welcome an iconic brand like Saks OFF 5TH to Liberty View Industrial Plaza," said Salmar Properties spokesman Ian Siegel this week. "We know they will have many years of success in Sunset Park both as a premiere retailer and employer. It is incredible to see the continued transformation of the Sunset Park community.”

Saks Fifth Avenue spokeswoman Meghan Biango told Patch that "approximately 90 associates" were hired to staff the retailer's new outlet, a number that includes both full and part-time employees.

Biango would not comment on how many workers were hired from the Sunset Park area or surrounding communities, nor would she offer specific wage or benefit information.

"Saks OFF 5TH offers associates competitive pay and benefits," she said.

According to New York State's Department of Labor, the average retail worker in New York City makes $27,400 per year. Entry level retail employees typically make $19,110 annually, while experienced workers make $31,540, DOL numbers show.

The city's latest living wage law established a living wage of $11.70 per hour with benefits, which translates to $24,336 annually, and $13.40 per hour without benefits, which equals $27,872 annually, assuming 2,080 working hours per year (40 hours multiplied by 52 weeks).

Pictured at top: Liberty View Industrial Plaza. Photo courtesy of Salmar Properties