retailer, Fortunoff, has announced tentative plans for a bigger store on the site, officials said.

Saks President Christina Johnson said Tuesday that the store’s financial performance had been poor, and the company decided to concentrate on the flagship store in Manhattan and other branches in the region, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Saks said it would keep the 47-year-old branch open through Christmas but would begin layoffs on Sept. 22.

Earlier this month, Saks Fifth Avenue said it would close its 50,000-square-foot unit in the Desert Fashion Plaza in Palm Springs, Calif., citing poor sales performance.

Saks Inc., the parent company, department store chains such as Carson Pirie Scott and Proffitt’s.

Fortunoff’s plans are contingent on receiving business incentives from the city and Westchester County, said company spokesman Louis Fortunoff. They call for demolition of Saks’ 128,000-square-foot building and construction of one as big as 190,000 square feet, which would create 600 full-time jobs, the AP reported.

JCK