urbanSTL

Brilliant! I see what you mean. People would go out of their way to see the window. It would be interesting to have a similar program for dressing windows of vacant storefronts.

That is an awesome idea - you should recommend it to Macy's management and/or the Downtown Partnership.

Expat wrote:It would be interesting to have a similar program for dressing windows of vacant storefronts.

I've seen artists do this in Milwaukee with vacant storefronts. It's really interesting to see ... like a public-space gallery.



But I've been told the red-tape to get through was a huge hassel, dealing with the owners of the vacant properties and the commercial realtors. I think the artist group actually had to "lease" the window display part of the vacant store in order to put up their installations.



And then there were the folks who thought the display was for some kind of new store and were confused and disappointed when it was still all locked up.



A very interesting idea, nonetheless.

Actually, that has already been tried. The Arcade building's windows were decorated by the local opera group and other arts groups promoting their organizations. To tell you the truth, they look a little sad.

Very sad. They don't appear to have ever been updated.

I also find decorating "vacant" buildings windows cheesy... it looks like a way to cover "decay" and "empty". They usually end up looking crappy and not updated. Why wouldn't the Opera or Symphony want to keep them up is beyond me...

anyways,

there are few buildings in downtown STL that are not undergoing renovations that we have to really "worry" about "covering".

Just my 2 cents.



Peace

I haven't been to the downtown store in a couple of weeks, but upon visits to the South County and West County locations this weekend, I noticed that suburban stores now have 'now hiring' signage and new store directories in front of their mall entrances with the Macy's star logo.



I also realized the many reasons I prefer shopping at the downtown store compared to its suburban counterparts, but that's another rant for another time.



The transformation of Famous-Barr stores into Macy's is supposed to be complete by September, so I wonder just how soon the Famous-Barr signs will disappear (particularly on the downtown store), and if any will remain after the changes are made.

^Yeah, as visible as that sign is from the new ballpark, you'd think Macy's would be in kind of a hurry to change it.

jlblues wrote:^Yeah, as visible as that sign is from the new ballpark, you'd think Macy's would be in kind of a hurry to change it.

I'd rather them not change it, same goes with the plaques on the building as well. After Sept 9th and the name change is officially official, I am going to shop at JCPenneys, Kohls, Mervyns, Marshalls, and even Target and Wal-Mart. I really hate Macys.

^ May I ask why? You'll shop at Wal-Mart, but not Macy's? Wow!



I wish Macy's wouldn't change the rooftop signage on the north and south of the Railway Exchange Building, or the plaques at street level, but I'd be very surprised if they didn't. I'd rather see a Macy's sign on the roof than no sign at all- and like jlblues said- it would make sense to change the roof signage as it is clearly visible from Busch Stadium.



I've enjoyed shopping at Famous-Barr through the years, but the truth is that May Company hasn't done enough to keep Famous and its regional counterparts (Robinson's-May, Kaufmann's, Foley's, etc.) competitive. I'll miss the Famous-Barr name, but frankly, there's little about the shopping experience that distinguishes it from a Macy's or a Dillard's.



This segment of department stores has been getting slaughtered by the likes of Nordstrom from above and Kohl's and JC Penney from below. I figure this consolidation is perhaps the best hope to ensure survival of the species- the traditional full-line department store.



Any loyalty I have to Macy's will in part be determined by their long-term plans for the downtown store. I generally don't shop at Dillard's, mostly because they barely put a dime into the former Stix Baer & Fuller flagship downtown. And yes, I know Saint Louis Centre's (and downtown's) decline in the 1980s and 1990s contributed to the store's failure, but Dillard's as a company repeatedly chose to let its downtown store wither away when it acquired department store chains during the same time period. Saint Louis is hardly alone- I know the same story played itself out in cities like Cleveland (Higbee's), Cincinnati (McAlpin's), and Louisville (Bacon's).



One of May Company's last signs of life was the investment made in the downtown Famous-Barr over the last year or so, the first notable improvements to that store in years. More work could and should be done, and I'd like to see more high-end lines of merchandise return to the store, but at least this is a start. Admittedly the downtown store was something of a loss leader for May for many years, but with the right mix of merchandise and continuing improvements to the store, I think Macy's can be successful there.

^ I don't shop at Wal-Mart, but I added that in as places I would rather go than shop at Macys heh.



I've been to Macys in Indiana, California, and NYC, and they weren't impressive at all, cluttered and poor customer service. Its not an improvement over May's stores IMO. Their NYC flagship was very cluttered and cramped, the low ceiling makes it worse. I am really upset they are doing away with the legendary Marshall Fields name. Thats what really has me angry along with many others. Hopefully, they don't change that beautiful MF on State St into trash like the NYC flagship store. IMO its a mistake for them to mess with Marshall Fields, hopefully it gets to them!:(



I guess thats part of business and survival these days, but I ain't going to support Macys though. Also I know a dozen people that lost their jobs at May Company.



Dillards is just like FDS, buying up regional dept stores and changing their names. I rarely go there as well...

You remember a couple years ago when Famous remodeled the first floor retail around their garage? I walked by there last week and it looks ready to be blighted. I don't think they've touched it with any maintenance, windex, or paint since completing it. The only upside I noticed was that someone has been planting and watering flowers. IMHO, this is classic Famous-style management. Since working downtown, I don't think the Subway has ever washed their windows--you can just barely see through them at times!

Jeff wrote:
I really wish they would turn the downtown store into St. Louis' only high-end destination Macy's. That would certainly bring the profits back to the downtown store, and their regional stores would still do well.

I don't think the demographics make sense for a high end store downtown... but i guess with all the new residents relocating there in the next few years, they might change their minds. The high end resturants seem to be doing well.

It's a bold new world with very savvy shoppers. The merchandise has to be different, unique and hugely appealing to get me to consider buying. Otherwise, I'll go with bargain stuff widely available. I think this is one reason I buy mostly on the internet...you can find really unique stuff easily from anywhere in the world. Famous has been nothing but lower-end generic and common.

I know this is a bit (OK a lot) off topic - but in responmse to Matt's post... Where does one find good clothing on the web. I've always wanted to find a good website with high end - unique stuff from around the world ...

uh, except clothing...



After visiting the Hudson Bay Company last year in Toronto, I have purchased some stuff online from them...http://www.hbc.com/



Incredible store in Toronto if you're ever there.



Some of the clearinghouses like smartbargains.com and overstock.com have some good stuff at great prices. A few chain stores will offer merchandise online that isn't ever available in their stores...usually more unique stuff that wouldn't sell enough in a single physical market.



I've never tried it but go to a country's Yahoo site and search clothing stores.

Back on topic... please don't post additional clothing websites suggestions. If you need to, send them in a PM for markofucity.



Thanks.

RE: business development...Famous has a pretty poor ecommerce site. Without ever looking, I wonder what web presence Macy's will offer? Just a couple of years ago, the Galleria forbid their stores to advertise a URL.

^ Famous-Barr's e-commerce site has already been replaced by Macy's.



Visit famousbarr.com, and it takes you straight to macys.com if I recall correctly.

I get an email from Macys.com with current deals and whatnot. Decent site. However, I was browzing for some clothing and went to the store locator, typed in my zip, and the closest one they listed was in Indiana. No mentioned at all of any of the "famous" stores. Suprises me, especially if the famousbarr.com link takes you stright to teh Macy's site.

ChrisInDownTown wrote:However, I was browzing for some clothing and went to the store locator, typed in my zip, and the closest one they listed was in Indiana. No mentioned at all of any of the "famous" stores. Suprises me, especially if the famousbarr.com link takes you stright to teh Macy's site.

Macy's website is nice. However, like you, I'm surprised they haven't worked to completely integrate the former May Company stores into their e-commerce site yet. I realize they have their work cut out for them, but it seems like a logical early step in the process.



Note that all TV and print ads now have the subtext "Now Part of the Macy's Family" under 'Famous Barr', and I'm sure other former May divisions have similar advertising.