2020 will always be remembered as a year of great upheaval characterized
by the coronavirus epidemic, the sad loss of NBA icon Kobe Bryant, and
civic disturbance following the murder of George Floyd. Among these social
issues, the pandemic’s economic effects did terrible damage to numerous
sectors, including retail. Longstanding department businesses, already
under strain against the emergence of internet behemoths like Amazon,
faced impossible challenges. Among the most notable fatalities was America’s
oldest department store chain, Lord & Taylor, which announced closing
of all 38 surviving locations following over two centuries in operation…