JJ5

Amen.

So true on the restaurant homogenization across the USA and letting the regional do their best products. In restaurants, there is no substitute for the homegrown original.

aloha

I was lucky enough to go to the State St. Marshall Fields in 2004. Just wandering around looking at the store itself was a wonderful experience. Mr. Aloha, who tolerates shopping but enjoys history, enjoyed it as much as I did. The first floor with all the cosmetics and accessories showcases, looking up at the iridescent dome from different floors (and taking pictures of it), looking at the big tree in the Walnut Room from the balcony in the furniture dept., looking down on the street and the Kristkindlmarket from the big old-fashioned windows in furniture dept., and the Christmas windows, it was all magical to us.

I have assumed that Macy's would not be changing the beautiful historic components of the exterior or interior of the building itself---I guess they could not if it is on the historic register. Can somebody tell me if the interior is being changed?

joncoff

The interior of the Marshall Field's (now macy's) flagship department store at 111 N. State Street in Chicago has radically been changed from the dignified, luxurious interior that most of you remember. First, red paint replaced anything that was green in color, from the carpeting to the column pillars to the red neon strips that surround each of the levels in the North Atrium! It's hideous! How they have ruined the former Field's is to install scanners on the beautiful columns so that customers (as few as they are) can scan prices themselves. Sales associates now wear funeral-like black outfits, and they are forbidden from saying anything negative about macy's and they told to say that anything macys is far better than what was at Field's---which is a bold-faced lie. Waiting lines do not exist at the Walnut Room any longer, due to the far-reaching boycott of customers and the general feeling that macys is a far inferior substitution for Marshall Field's. Oh, macy's has placed shopping carts on all floors of the State Street store---can you imagine seeing those stalls holding shopping carts in what a previously a beautiful building?! The high fashion names in courtre and designer fashions for men and ladies are gone. The designers broke contracts, once Field's no longer in operation. They did not want their highly regarded names to be in a macy's which now has the same atmosphere and type of apparel as a Kohl's. You no longer see crowds in the store, and tourists are reminded by signs on the front doors that photography is absolutely forbidden in macy's--a Federated Department Stores, Inc. policy. One more observation about the atmosphere of the store---Hip-Hop and ghetto type of music is being played on the background speaker systems to attract more of the younger crowd. Macy's seems to be saying that they no longer want the older shoppers, but are trying to be "with it" with the younger set of people, which is so sad. I neglected to mention the ugly black awnings on the exterior of the store which have replaced the grand forest-green awnings of the Marshall Field & Company trademark name. The display windows are bland. and the same as in other macy downtown store...nothing special like you formerly observed at Marshall Field's. Gift boxes are no longer complimentary, even in the china shop. You no longer see the durable, distinctive Marshall Field Green shopping bags. You now see cheap, poorly made macy white plastic shopping bags that might fall apart when several items are placed in them.
There is a strong effort to convince Federated to bring back the Marshall Field name...along WITH the famous quality, selection, and service. Go to: www.fieldsfanschicago.org for more information. The more people we have boycotting macys to convince Federated of their totally wrong decision, the sooner we will have our Marshall Field's back where it beongs in Chicago!

JJ5

Well, that's why I didn't venture in at that location. I don't want to see it, and want to have clean line memories.

What I have noticed about State St. from the old Carson's building North, on both sides of the street, is that it is turning into a mall store/ strip type shopping trend- going after a different demographic. Not just the music either. Rather much as you have described inside Field's.

I put that fact, which was my opinion, on another shopping Chicago tourist thread back about 2 or 3 months ago and a poster gave me issue on it. That's exactly what I saw too, hip-hop and low pants replacing classic suits per se. Also in style, as the Longuines clock is frozen and underneath it is a huge alternative style haircut/ headgear/ black "gothist" type dude as window display. And it's growing and spreading like a fungus.

And the mall suburban Macy's? Yes, very much like a Kohl's.

msjames

Wow, joncoff, that report is sad indeed. Red neon strips? Scanners on the pillars? Paying for a gift box in the china dept? Rap music? Shopping carts? Cheap bags? Sounds kind of like Walmart.

Sales associates forced to say that Macy's is superior to Marshall Fields? Sounds kind of like Orwell's 1984.

joncoff

Yes, and all these vast changes came after Mr. Terry Lundgren, CEO, President and Chairman of Federated Department Stores, Inc. stated that nothing would change at the former Marshall Field Stores and that the traditions of MF's would be honored. (We all know to be aware when anyone says: "Nothing will change after the merger and name change"----don't we!? Yes, the hip-hop music is easily heard by its loud volume on the first floor cosmetics area, where classy jazz formerly could be heard softly in the background. The MF name has been removed from the famous FRANGO mint boxes and they are referred to as Macy's Mints. No credit is given in the history of FRANGOS on the box to Marshall Field's at all. In fact, anything related to MF's name in the store and at mall stores has been removed and destroyed. Fortunately, as was pointed out before, Macy's cannot change the brass plaques and the famous clocks on the corners. Once again, join in the boycott, send letters to Mayor Daley, the newspapers, and of course, feel free to read and write on the website at: www.fieldsfanschicago.org Thank you!

dgg

Oh, I just saw this post. I realize it's a little late to jump in, but I'm SICK about the Macy's conversion. We haven't lived in Chicago for about 10 years, but it's our family tradition to spend Thanksgiving week downtown, shopping, etc. to get into the Christmas spirit. We live in the south now, and it's just not the same. Anyway, every year we buy Frango Mints for all the kids' teachers and include a note about how the only place in the world where these are sold is at MF in Chicago. This past Christmas, the boxes still said Frango Mints Chicago, but I knew in my heart that Macy's Mints had too good a ring to it to be ignored. It sounds like they've done it. I'm not a Macys shopper. Are they available at all Macys now?

Fodorite018

The Frango's we used to buy at several stores here in Oregon. Frederick & Nelson, the Bon, Meier and Frank...now Macy's. I can remember my mom buying them when I was little. Oh, and Costco has them now, lol!

JJ5

Frangos, the actual ingredients too (changed), production moved out of MF proper about 3 years or more ago, if my memory /nightly news serves me right.

I also know there was a news line last year before the store name changes etc. that said that some production had moved back in. Then heard from someone in the know. NOT!

Regardless, I bought them downtown in May, 2006 when I went to see Wicked with my granddaughter, daughter and DILs and they are NOT the same. Nor is Fannie May. Fannie May is not even 1/2 as good as it once way, especially the Pixies.

All the railroad connections bringing in corn syrup, sugar and cocoas from this area and production costs- they've changed to. Chicago used to be the candy making capital of the world, not just the USA. Mars, Tootsie-Roll, Brach's- everyone was here.

No more.

dgg

Mms, I had no idea you could buy Frangos anywhere but Marshall Fields. Now Costco! I don't think they're going to be teacher gifts for us anymore.

JJ5, regarding the taste, it has changed.

joncoff

Wow, is it really a fact that FRANGO mints are now sold in COSTCO stores? It's bad enough that they do not have the Marshall Field name on them and they are being sold at all Macy's, but to think Costco? I want to mention this fact on the www.fieldsfanschicago.org blogsite but I would like confirmation to know that I did not misread that info.

tcreath

I don't know about Costco, but I did see Frango mints for sale this past weekend at a Macy's in Charlotte, NC.

Tracy

Fodorite018

Yes, it is Frango's that are sold at Costco. I have bought them at Christmas time for several years there.

swalter518

Man, that's it, the final straw (as if I needed another one) Frangos at Costco...only Macy's would cheapen up one of the few Fields exclusive things left...

JJ5

swalter, they are not the same. Not even close.

swalter518

I can honestly say that I haven't purchased a thing there since they changed the name, except for my eyeliner which I can only get there unless I go downtown or to Oakbrook (but now that Sephora opened in the mall...sorry I digress.) I know we're beating a dead horse but it just kills me that any local uniqueness is just mowed under! I know Fields hasn't been owed by the Fields for many years but at least the previous owners didn't have the audacity to shove their name down Chicagoans throats!

Cali

Our local Costco here in S. Orange County, CA did have Frango mints at Christmas and they were really Frango mints. I grew up on Frango mints and these were the real thing. I asked the manager of our Costco why they had them and other stores didn't and he said all the Costco managers have some leeway on things they can decide to stock and frequently have short term specials and this was one of them. Also, our local Macy's still has Frango Mints and they are called Frango mints both in the store and in their ads. Don't know if they changed them elsewhere but not here in S. CA.

Fodorite018

Cali--Same here...been having them for years It is always fun to see what Costco brings in for the holidays. It is nice to have the specials that you don't normally see. My empty Frango container is our penny jar now, lol!

monet77

A few posts back Scarlett asked why we couldn't have a Galeries Lafayette here in the US. Well, they did open one in NYC back in the 1980s at 57th and Fifth (site of the old Bonwit Teller). It was small but good for French cosmetics. It didn't last long though and is now Niketown!