starrsville

The same happened in Atlanta. No more Rich's. For a while, it was Rich's-Macy's and now just Macy's.

It interesting that some people have no idea how much impact the history (and the founders) of a city's flagship store means to the customers.

snowrooster

The history is still there even if the store isn't. Lazarus had a significant history in Cincinnati, but when the name changed to Macy's recently it was just a department store like the others in the mall. Unfortunately going "downtown" to shop at long-standing stores has become a thing of the past as well. The city of Cincinnati actually pays Saks to stay downtown just so people have a reason to leave the burbs (though I don't know how long that will last as our rennovated Macy's is becoming very high end).

mm

I am curious as to why this non-travel related thread is so active while the "Affiliates wanted..." one gets trashed?

Standards of acceptability seem to be wildly variable here.

Why does one off-topic post rate a different status than another?

mm

Intrepid1

I suggest you ask the stockholders in these companies whether or not they care much about your disgust in the search for the profitable bottom line.

"I think it is all about money..."

Of course it is.

Now, whether or not this is, in the end, the WISEST decision..that's a whole other conversation.

mm

Hello snowrooster,

You wrote: "The history is still there even if the store isn't."

A couple of weeks ago you had the opposite feeling during the discussion regarding whether or not to rebuild NOLA.

Perhaps you'll understand how some people can get wound up by the extreme lack of consistancy.

mm

karens

Btilke - as I was reading this thread, the first stores that popped into my mind were Wanamakers in Phila. and Hess's in Allentown.

Now that the same stores are everywhere, there is no reason to go shopping "downtown" anymore. Main Street in Allentown used to be a fun shopping experience with a great lunch to boot. Now the street is lined with Dollar Stores. This scenerio is everywhere, nation-wide. To me, it's depressing realizing there is little unique-ness left.

As much as I am underwhelmed with local Macys, I am so thankful for the NYC Macy's and Christmas-time. And as much as I like Target, I would be totally depressed taking my kids to sit on Santa's lap at Target!

crefloors

I think a lot of these stores are consolodating because retail is just so competative and the stores just can't make enough money. Macy's is always having a "sale" and promote, promote, promote. I was a Macy's "girl" for a long time. I think they have gone down hill a bit in the last 5 or 6 years, and yea...usually if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all for the most part. We are getting a Dillards here around holiday time and I'm not familiar with them. I hope they have nice things and will be a little different from Macy's. It's a shame to see all the old line stores go...I was so sad when there was no more I. Magnin or Joseph Magnin in San Francisco. I remember those stores were so nice, great merchandise, and elevator operators!!! Oh I almost forgot...City of Paris..a really special place particulary at Christmas. I sympathize with you swalter518 but sad to say...it's the way it is these days.

wtm003

I think this thread is travel related in the sense that Marshall Field's is a Chicago institution and tourist destination. It has been several years since I visited the store, but it did leave a lasting impression. You can honestly feel the history when you enter the building. I really have no desire to visit Macy's when I return to Chicago, because it will not be a unique experience.

snowrooster

"Perhaps you'll understand how some people can get wound up by the extreme lack of consistancy."

I haven't a clue what you mean. The history of New Orleans is still there regardless of it's future. I'm not sure why you are bringing this up other than to create trouble. Perhaps you have answered you own question as to why certain threads are deleted.

swalter518

To address the dying downtown area, Chicago is a city that has bucked this trend and the biggest, newest developments are all within a few blocks of the State Street store. It's not a matter of the shoppers not being there or the city paying it to stay as may be the instance in some cities. In fact, Chicago has seen an increase in retail development alot in the last 10 years, a big piece centered around this store on State Street.

Leona

Anybody in NJ remember Bamberger's?

Not a very nice retail chain from some years ago, taken over by Macy's. And while I'm not a big Macy's fan, it was a marked improvement.

JJ5

The memories are NOT just ancient ones, and if they were- why would you not want to retain your cultural history? We wouldn't even have a lakefront without Field's, Ward, Palmer, and others. This is something that friends from EUROPE came to experience in my own past.

My granddaughters LOVE State Street Marshal Field's and they weren't even born before the big changes occurred. I just shopped there this summer and it's still head and shoulders over higher priced and trendy stores. If they take the wooden floors out, I'm going to make it my business to see where they use them or if they're trashed. They destroyed a priceless Tiffany ceiling in the old bar and my Dad got a piece of it gratis just laying on skids for the dumpsters. He's so sorry now that he didn't take the entire pile.

And it isn't me, but shopping is a BIG reason why people do travel, women especially. They better not trash this, because the backlash will not be pretty.

JeanH

The first vacation I ever took as a child was to Chicago. I was absolutely amazed by Marshall Field's. Twenty years later I brought my husband to Chicago, and once again, fell in love with Marshall Field's. I haven't been to Chicago in a couple years, and I really don't like to shop, but I can't imagine the Loop without Marshall Field's.

ncgrrl

Around here, Hecht's are becoming Macy's. Hecht's used to be Thalheimer's, which I think was based in Richond, VA.

A couple of years ago I was in Seattle and went into Bon Marche (which I think is now Bon Macy's) and it look a lot like Hecht's then. Brands, store layout, newspaper ads, etc.

Vittrad

What a sad day. I have fond memories of going to the Walnut room to eat with my grandmother and peering at the christmas windows as a child. Marshall Field's may be a department store, but it is rich with history for many people, I know it is for me (and I felt like I had graduated to adulthood when I first bought a piece of furniture there had had it delivered to my apartment . I'll be sad for its loss.

Cassandra

I just don't understand snowrooster's attitude here -- to put down pretty much those who doesn't think it's great that the country is about to be fully Macy-fied and anyone who enjoys memories past last week.

This thread is fair on a travel board because the mercantile establishments of our large cities have been not only architectural landmarks but also trademarks of what was once regional specialty AND quality. The very fact that midwesterners think the name "Marshall Fields" has more recognition, whill New Yorkers think "Macy's" does, and Bostonians assume everyone has heard of "Filene's," kind of proves the point.

Marshall Fields was a landmark in and for Chicago, whether snowrooster included it in visits or not; and it provided quality in products and services that has been obliterated by the metastasis of sameness in retail America.

Filene's, too, meant a great deal, and if Macy's were to have been renamed "Jones's" in NY, with a step-down in quality, you'd hear a howl from New Yorkers. The "Jones Thanksgiving Day Parade"??

This isn't just old fuddy-duddy resistance to change that young whippersnappers need to point out and criticise. It's recognition of the cultural status of places like Marshall Fields and Filene's, the pride not only in name but what it represents/represented, and a damfine resource for the lucky residents of the cities where these stores stood for generations. It's true, they aren't what they were because, as has been pointed out, the merge mania has reduced retailing to the least common denominator, with labor costs as close to nonexistent as possible.

All I can think is that if you don't understand or at least respect the dismay over these take-overs, you probably have no idea what you've missed. Which is sort of the point.

Shar

I feel sad for you as well. I think Macy's is a glorified Mervyn's (for those of us on the west coast) Our Macy's here in San Mateo CA is pretty bad - no service-clothes all mixed in together-terrible sales although they have them every week. quality of clothing has gone down hill so I hope that doesn't happen to your Marshall Fields Store.

snowrooster

It sounds like there are a lot of great memories. I didn't mean to imply anyone or anything was ancient. I was just wondering if the things that made it great were still present today - I don't have any personal experience with Marshall Fields other than a few things ordered online.

Maybe it would help to email/contact Macy's and tell them what has made this flagship location of Marshall Fields in Chicago so special over the years. If enough people feel the same way, perhaps they would consider keeping this one store with the name. Hey, you never know if you don't try. I remember when I was a kid and Busom Buddies was cancelled - enough people complained to the network and it was renewed. Not even close to the same thing, but sometimes if enough customers complain loud enough they are heard.

padams421

MF is a Chicago institution. I am sorry to hear this news.

swalter518

snowrooster,
Already sent a letter expressing my displeasure, including my cut up, cancelled Regards card (MF credit card). We'll see what happens but I'm not hopeful.