Ira Neimark, who started in retail as a department store pageboy and went on to build Bergdorf Goodman into the standard-bearer for luxury shopping, died on April 18 at his home in Harrison, N.Y. He was 97.

His death was confirmed by his daughter, Robin Neimark Seegal.

As the leader of Bergdorf Goodman for more than 17 years, starting in 1975, Mr. Neimark (pronounced NEE-mark) helped transform it into an arbiter of high fashion that catered to the richest New Yorkers and wealthy visitors from around the world

Under Mr. Neimark’s watch, Bergdorf helped start the careers of young designers like Michael Kors, whose clothing was given coveted space on the sales floor.

In New York’s crowded retail landscape, Bergdorf — which was founded in 1899 as a tailor shop and has been in the same Fifth Avenue location since 1928 — has continued to stand out even as its parent company, Neiman Marcus, struggles with a large debt load resulting from a private equity buyout.