socialworker

HI Anonymous--I am surprised to hear you say that Macy's only changed the logos...they also replaced my beloved Valerie Steven's brand with their c----- Macy's store brand, whose name escapes me right now. I hate Macy's--used to like it when it was a NYC icon-- and as a former (childhood and adolescence) Chicagoan, I cannot fathom the gall of replacing beloved Marshall Field's!!

MelissaHI

In DC, there is/was a local department store called Hecht's. when I was there in June, I saw ads saying, "Sale at Hecht's today!" so i went straight down there and stood on the corner thinking, "Where the heck is Hecht's?" All I saw was a big Macy's store. Seems like the store kept the name/brand, although it had to adopt the Macy's logo.

I was told that Marshall Field's will still keep the Frango brands? Frango by Macy's or something?

LoveItaly

Being in N CA all of my life I am not familar with Marshall Fields but I sure feel everyone's pain.

When I Magnin's went out of business Macy's took over the location at Union Square in SF.

I miss I Magnin's so much, sob!

I hate Macy's! And my worse complaint is the condition of their restrooms. The I Magnin's ladies room was a true beautiful and spotless retreat. The last time my daughter used it she told me in the area with all the marble floor to ceiling cubicals (sp?) that half of them had burned out light bulbs that meant when you went in and shut the door you were in complete darkness. Most of the Macy's in the shopping centers have urine smelling restrooms. I realize the customers could be more careful but why can't Macy's "afford" to have the proper janitorial service. At one shopping center the joke is that the Mervyn's restrooms have always been spotless.

But glad you and your daughter found a dress for her mms!! I didn't know young ladies were still buying Jessica McClintock dresses..I have adorable photos of my daughter dressed in that brand which she and all her friends adored!

amaclise

Federated (the Parent Co.) is trying to turn Macy's into the ONLY national middle market department store - hoping for the buying and marketing power and efficiencies that go along with being national.

The middle market department store is getting KILLED by Target, WalMart, etc. That's why they're changing all the names over in the new markets, so Macy's can be national.

As I understand it, they are keeping Frango mints and also selling some Field's logo merchandise for tourists in a boutique at State Street but all the other Field's store brands are history like the name.

I will say Macy's is known for having decent store brands. And their prices can be good providing you beleive the quality/selection is better than Target. But it's no Field's, Hecht's, Rich's, Filene's, Jordan Marsh...

Fodorite018

LoveItaly--Your description is what my experience has been also, unfortunately. But today, Macy's was a good fit. Granted, the experience was not ideal, but we found a nice dress at a good price. And yes, I used to wear the JM dresses too, lol!

starrsville

I loved JM dresses - and I still like the JM perfume!

starrsville

One of my favorite memories of SF, LoveItaly. Visiting the Jessica McClintock store there years ago!

Anonymous

Hi socialworker, I'm afraid I might have misled you. When I said that Macy's had only changed the logos at Filene's I was referring to the general store decor and layout. I didn't look at any actual clothing labels, I was just passing through the store. I'm highly allergic to retail shopping, preferring to buy most of my stuff at Target and KMart -- which leaves more $$ to spend for travel!

LoveItaly

Hi Starrsville, that Jessica McClinton name made me jump..I truly hadn't heard or thought about those dresses for ages. You can tell I only have grandsons, no granddaughter, sob!!

crefloors

I'm not that wild about Macy's anymore either. I liked Joseph Magnin in SF and City of Paris...both gone now. Macy's about 20 years ago was great but not that great these days. We just got Dillards here in Reno. Did a stroll through a few months ago but didn't spend a lot of time..nothing I needed..also Coldwater Creek. So, I'll probably take a better look at the end of the month or in Oct. to see what they have and get there before the Christmas season. I'm gettin old and would rather spend my money traveling. It just seems we are getting so "homogenized" anymore. All the "big box" stores, chain department stores, anywhere in the country they are all the same. I try to find smaller, local stores and partonize them whenever I can.

LoveItaly

Hi Creefloors, I also liked Joseph Magnin's and the City of Paris! But all of you ought to live in my city. We have the choice of Mervyns, Kohls, Marshall's, Rosses and the outlets. And the clothes at the outlets are made for the outlet stores so they are not the same quality in most cases as the clothes that are in their regular stores. We don't even have one small speciality store. Well it sure keeps me from spending money, so guess that is a good thing.

Vittrad

I stopped by Field's on State Street on my way home from work last night for the last time. I'm sure I'll darken the door of Macy's, but I'm in no rush.

I have fond memories of Field's (I ate lunch with my Grandmother in the Walnut room as a child), but I have to say, the neglect of the former owners was apparent over the past few years, and while I'm not to happy about Macy's trying to erase the memory of Field's, I sometimes wonder if the Field's of my youth clouded what the Fields of last year was. Because let's face it, it was a shadow of its former self.

And to weigh in on Carson's, the last time I was in there, it was just depressing, and while I'm sad to see a landmark go, I don't really know that I'll miss it.

AuntAnnie

In Minnesota there was a wonderful family-owned department store called "Dayton's." When i visit our Art Institute I notice so many paintings donated by the Dayton family. Then Marshall Field's bought Dayton's. It was hard for us Minnesotans, but we adjusted and now THIS!! Macy's is trying to maintain some of the Dayton's traditions, but I doubt I will see paintings in my museum donated by the Macys. I do miss my Dayton's.

BayouGal

Macy's closed their store in New Orleans after Katrina.

I hope they keep their quality up better for you than they did here - it was getting to be hardly better than a Sears, except they did a carry a few of the better brands.

Citylghts

AuntAnne, Field's did not buy Dayton's. Dayton Hudson bought Field's from the British American Tobacco group when the group sold it and Saks stores.

wliwl

***sigh***

Does anybody else remember when shopping was fun?

BTilke

Macy's also took over the Meier & Frank chain in Oregon. I never thought M&F was that great in the first place, so no big loss there.
Now if Macy's ever manages to take over Nordstrom's, then I will go into serious mourning.
As I said on another Macy's/Marshall Fields thread, it's worse when a once venerable store keeps its name but slowly goes downhill, destroying its once sterling reputation. John Wanamaker's, Strawbridge & Clothier, and Hess's all went through that in Pennsyvlania.
Does anybody else from PA remember Zollinger's and Leh's? My mom still has their credit cards in a drawer.

LoveItaly

Yes wliwl I do remember when shopping was fun! I loved to shop. Now I would rather clean the bathroom I think. Shopping gets more and more tiresome each year. And BORING thanks to all the junk even in the highend stores.

OO

BayouGal, there wasn't a Macy's when we lived there...Godchaux and Maison Blanche were the big guns. Which one of those is now Macy's?

PS...I've wanted to ask you, is Touro Infirmary still up and running?

dotsy

Marshall Fields was Chicago. It was great in the days when you would see the Fields green trucks delivering in our neighborhoods--especially when we were gettomg married and receiving all those wonderful Fields gifts. At least Macys left the famous clock in place as well as the plaques that say Marshall Fields. Sadly, time marches on.