Why are Macy's in so many cities with wealthy people, while being in other cities with lots of poverty? (house, buying)

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by pw72

As others have mentioned, Macy's bought out a number of chains in the past decade. While some of these stores have become Macy's, many have simply closed.

In the Pacific Northwest, the once strong Bon Marche brand was bought out by Federated, then Federated bought out Macy's. Federated liked the Macy's name and operated many chains that became Macy's, but again, many were also closed.

I liked the nostalgic downtown department stores like Bon Marche in Seattle, Marshall Fields in Chicago, Filenes in Boston. Especially around the holidays. Macy's killed that.

[motorman]

Originally Posted by WestbankNOLA

Don't expect a Macy's in Montana to offer the same "product" as the Macy's on W 34th.

Not that it matters, but many consumers may associate Macy's with its beloved flagship store on 34th St. in NYC--when its home base is actually Cincinnati, Ohio...

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by InLondon

It's because they bought other department stores that went out of business.

You have your 3 categories of department stores, from low to high:

1. Macy's, Dillard's, Belk, Elder Beerman etc.
2. Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor
3. Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue

If a metro area has more than 2 million people, you can expect to have one or more of the high end department stores in that area depending on average income.

We have stores from all 3 of your categories here in the Mpls/St. Paul. Just judging from the local ones, I'd rank Bloomingdale's on your level 2.

[the city]

Originally Posted by InLondon

It's because they bought other department stores that went out of business.

You have your 3 categories of department stores, from low to high:

1. Macy's, Dillard's, Belk, Elder Beerman etc.
2. Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor
3. Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue

If a metro area has more than 2 million people, you can expect to have one or more of the high end department stores in that area depending on average income.

Ha ha JCPenney's, Kohl's, and Sear's must be in the discount clothing department store tier.

I am trying hard right now to convince a developer to work with our city government to bring Macy's to our community.

There is going to be an upcoming city council meeting and I am going to make a powerful speech.

The city is willing to give incentives to Macy's. My question would be, how good of a deal do you need to get a company like Macy's? The city would draw about 80,000 population. Shoppers that live over the hill usually don't come to shop to our town.

[Jimrob1]

I have wondered this also. When I moved to Portland I was somewhat but not completely shocked how much poverty and financial disparity in population is in this city. The one's that have marketed this city so much in the last decade conviently left that out.

I was surprised that the Macy's in downtown closed during these troubled times, only to refurbish itself and reopen into a flagship store. I believe a luxury hotel is part of the bldg that houses Macy. Everytime I walk by this store I am amazed they attract any customers. So I walked in a few times and there were few customers. The downtown location is plagued by what Portland is known for, an unusually high homeless and panhandler population. They are right outside the Macy's and that luxury hotel every day in large numbers sitting and laying all over the sidewalks. So far this location has lost a number of high end stores and it was due to the fact the customer base isn't in this area. Sacks 5th Ave and Williams Sonoma were just two of many stores across the street from Macy's that packed up this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see Macy's leave downtown Portland if this economy or a higher end shopper doesn't move into Portland.

[the city]

Have their been cases where Macy's has been in the same shopping center with Wal-Mart?

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by Ben Around

Macy's bought lots of local department stores and chains. Here in the Twin Cities, they bought Dayton's, once the cities' premier department stores. Now that they are Macy's, their service, selection and quality have declined. Used to shop at Dayton's a lot, but mostly I'll go to Kohl's before I'll go to Macy's. Nothing special about it.

I have to agree with you- the older i get the more i gravitate towards a lower end store even a store like macy's

however sometimes at large dept high end stores you can really find some gret deals off season

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by the city

Oh, care to explain this more?

That makes sense. Is this why people say one market is a tier 1, one is a a tier 2, and tier 3....

I guess Macy's can adapt to different demographic environments.

For a store to be profitable they have to cater to a market they have a presence

tastes will be totally different in a city vs. one in a more rural type setting

grocers do the same things as well as just about any successfull retail establishment
think abou kohls if you have them where you live

I live in Illinois so in the mens dept you would see beart, illinois, purdue team shirts and garb

Lets say your in Michigan you would see- lions, michigan state and uof m
college wear.

the stores are catering to their local market

same holds true for like a hardware store - you will not see snow blowers in arizona at an ace hardware

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by caphillsea77

I liked the nostalgic downtown department stores like Bon Marche in Seattle, Marshall Fields in Chicago, Filenes in Boston. Especially around the holidays. Macy's killed that.

Macy's didn't kill that, American consumers did. With the advent of discount stores (primarily WalMart), most Americans threw downtown shopping areas under the bus for discount shopping in the 'burbs. When those downtown department stores failed Macy's moved in to take over many of them. Be thankful a decent store moved in, versus many locations that now sit empty.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by caphillsea77

I liked the nostalgic downtown department stores like Bon Marche in Seattle, Marshall Fields in Chicago, Filenes in Boston. Especially around the holidays. Macy's killed that.

true are you old enough to remember the Jordan Marsh that used to be in downtown Boston where Macy's is now? My mom practically lived in that store. don't get me started on Filene's

Macy's seems to be getting a bad rep from die hard fans of those stores they take over. I've heard quite a few Chicagoans that will refuse to shop at the Macy's on State St. b/c they took over Marshall Fields