  saks, inc., originally proffitt's inc. until 1998, is a fortune 1000 operator of high-end department stores in the united states under the nameplate saks fifth avenue. it was founded in birmingham, alabama and is currently headquartered in new york city. ==history== ===proffitt's inc.=== proffitt's inc. began as five proffitt in the alcoa, tennessee metropolitan area. after going public under the symbol prft on the nasdaq stock exchange in 1987, proffitt's inc. grew by acquiring several department stores. in 1989 the company purchased 18 hess's locations in tennessee, virginia, kentucky, and georgia. from 1994 to 1998, the company added mcrae's, younkers, parisian, herberger's, carson pirie scott, boston store, and bergner's chains, as well as additional stores from loveman's, parks-belk, and brody's, which were converted into existing store nameplates. after acquiring parisian, proffitt's relocated its corporate headquarters to birmingham, alabama from knoxville in october 1997. ===saks, inc.=== in september 1998, the company acquired the holding company for the luxury retailer saks fifth avenue, saks holdings, inc., and subsequently changed its legal name to saks, incorporated. the acquisition brought the saks fifth avenue and off 5th franchises, as well as folio, a mail-order business and saks.com, an online r
Companies_based_in_New_York_City Companies_formerly_listed_on_the_New_York_Stock_Exchange