urbanSTL

ThreeOneFour wrote:I did some shopping at the downtown Famous today, and noticed a few more subtle changes...



- The elevators in the parking garage are new. That's nice, but unfortunately someone forgot to mark the level where the bridge connects the garage to the fourth level of the store.



- I haven't been on the fourth floor (ladies' merchandise) in awhile, and I noticed that the flooring is new and looks especially nice. The windows on the skybridge appear to have been cleaned, although someone still could've done a much better job.



- All the store directories have the Macy's star logo now. Signage with the green/blue used by May Company stores informs shoppers that their credit cards are now good at any Macy's location, although those have been in place for a few months now. Other than that, no Macy's signage so far...



- I bought a shirt on the 2nd floor and received a Famous-Barr bag, but when I bought some gifts for my son's upcoming birthday, they were placed in a Macy's bag. I guess I'll save that Famous bag; it could be my last.

If you goto St. Clair Square, they have already plastered the gacy's signs up, but they are currently covered by Famous Barr tarps. I guess they are waiting for the "official" unveiling in September.



I need to visit the downtown store for the last time before its ruined.

^ I just went to St. Clair Square yesterday- I had to return the shirt I bought Saturday for a different size, and I didn't want to deal with Cardinals gameday traffic. All Macy's signage is in place, temporarily covered by tarps with the Famous-Barr name.



The same shopping bag phaseout is happening there too- I saw more Macy's bags than Famous-Barr when I was there.



Xing, since I always have had family in the Metro East, I practically grew up in St. Clair Square. Like you, it disappoints me that it replaced downtown Belleville as the area's shopping destination. However, as far as malls go, it's still one of my favorites.



I particularly like the Famous-Barr store there- the men's department is one of the largest of all their stores. The domed roof is rather distinctive, and gives the store some unique character since most mall stores have no character whatsoever. (I wonder when Federated will fix the storm damage, though. That roof has always been vulnerable to high winds.)



As long as Macy's doesn't mess with the men's department at St. Clair Square, or the overall mix of the downtown store, they'll continue to get my business.



JMed, I think the main level of the downtown store still needs a lot of work.

I went to this downtown Famous last weekend and took some pics inside and out. However, I am wondering will they be removing those plaques that say "Famous & Barr Co."???



Is that Railroad Exchange building registered as a historical building? I hope they leave the exterior untouched. I heavily doubt it....the same goes with Marshall Fields on State St.

as i've mentioned before- can't they just open up all the huge windows around the edge of the downtown store? Strip the columns and ceiling, create something that NO OTHER store in the region can compare to. It's really just that simple. oh, and make parking free at the old F-B garage. That building could easily be a flagship store in New York or Paris, and here in stl we could give two s's for some reason. I'll take that over Mid Rivers or West Co mall any day.. maybe we're just too suburban and hoosh now to realize what we have (had).

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stor ... ily33.html

Macy's Midwest has set Sept. 9 as its official date to launch the department store's new identity in St. Louis and other markets where parent company Federated Department Stores acquired May Department Stores' nameplates last year.



New merchandise, updated signage, wider aisles and other changes will greet customers here gradually during the summer and be fully implemented by the launch

^ I heard on KMOV last week that Macy's Midwest is planning a block party as part of a grand re-opening of the downtown store on Sept. 8. It was also mentioned that the downtown store will be remodeled, although much of the store has already been redone in the last year or so.



(Hopefully that means Federated will do something with the main floor- its last major update came just before Saint Louis Centre opened- and I'm not kidding.)



I have yet to see permanent signs (other than those advertising credit cards, gift cards, etc. inside the store) added to the downtown location. Macy's signs covered by temporary Famous Barr signage printed on tarps are present at most locations throughout the area now- even the warehouse next to Highway 40 near downtown has a Macy's sign underneath the Famous-Barr tarp.

They removed the canvas awnings at street level by lunch-time today. I wonder if they'll just be replaced or if there are other plans.

ThreeOneFour wrote:^ I just went to St. Clair Square yesterday.... I particularly like the Famous-Barr store there- the men's department is one of the largest of all their stores. The domed roof is rather distinctive, and gives the store some unique character since most mall stores have no character whatsoever. (I wonder when Federated will fix the storm damage, though. That roof has always been vulnerable to high winds.)

Of course the roof wasn't distinctive back when Famous had four stores with rotundas. But no.. they had to tear down or otherwise camoflage most of them. Maybe they were never great structures, but they had a great, dinstinctive look! I remember going shopping with my mom as a little kid, and it felt like walking into a spaceship! Why they ever abandoned this architectural style for the sterile, generic boxes they built in the 80s and 90s is beyond me.

Block party, grand re-opening, renovations, etc... And I was hoping for just a can of paint and some windex.



This is fantastic news!



It's always exciting when players in the market raise the ante. I think anything Macy's does to bring the store to flagship status will be greatly rewarded by the consumer.

Great news: they've already cleared two of the streetfront windows on 7th, and are scraping the black paint off two on 6th this morning.

Awesome.

I went to the downtown store Friday and Saturday to take advantage of the sales tax-free weekend. It never felt crowded, but there was a decent and steady crowd of shoppers on both days when I was there.



Outside, the Famous-Barr logos have been removed from the blacked-out windows, and some of those windows are no longer blacked out. All the awnings have been removed, which will likely be replaced by some bearing Macy's logos. No other exterior changes so far- including the rooftop signage on Olive and Locust streets. The plaques that encircle the building remain.



Inside, all advertising (credit cards, gift cards, services) has been replaced with Macy's signage. Macy's also has its gift cards, its wedding registry, etc. in place. Much of its private label merchandise is now available (to the delight of my wife, who complained about the selection at all Famous-Barr stores).



The most interesting development of all, however, is noticeable work on the main floor, the place that needs attention the most IMHO. First, the gaudy brown velvety crap on the ceiling has been removed. Work is in progress on the Olive Street side of the store, with merchandise shifted in that part of the store, and canvas concealing the ongoing work.



One more thing really got my attention. On the Sixth Street side, escalators have been installed leading to the basement. I can recall when clearance merchandise was located in the basement as well as on the basement balcony (Famous-Barr speak for mezzanine back in the day). I have no idea what Federated's plans are, but with the escalators in place I would assume that this area will be converted into retail space again.



May Company began pouring money into the store last year when renovations were made to some floors (especially floors 3, 5, and 7). I'm pleased to see that Federated is picking up where May Company left off. I'd like to see more high-end merchandise like what is presently offered in the Galleria and West County stores- hopefully that's something that we'll see eventually if it doesn't happen right away. I doubt the renovations will be complete when the transition is complete this time next month, but it's just nice to see this level of investment in the downtown store.

There are some incredible bargains on the 6th floor. I purchased a $100 picture frame for $25.00 last week. It's stuff that Macy's will not be selling.

This building could be in New York, Paris, or London. I really hope Macy's cleans this building up. The building might be just as large, if not larger, than the New York Macy's. It was, for a time, the largest office building in the world.

^ That picture is a great find! Thanks for sharing!

^^ Look at the old cars -- angle parked (on 7th?)! Hilarious. I'm surprised the street doesn't look busier, actually. I wonder if this was taken on a weekend.

I'd love to have those buildings on the south side of Olive back. Heck, at this point, I'd love to have the one remaining building (at the corner) renovated.

What the hell is that in the lower left corner of that pic? I can't identify it. A sculpture? But it looks too modern for the time. A rooftop sign? Or, is it some very odd piece of construction equipment...

jlblues wrote:What the hell is that in the lower left corner of that pic? I can't identify it. It looks like some sort of sculpture, although it looks too modern for the time. Either that, or it is some very odd piece of construction equipment...

It looks like it might be the structural top of some sort of corner marquis on a building? I dunno -- it definitely looks 'functional' and not 'aesthetic.'

^It looks like a Rube Goldberg invention.

I believe that is the top of the Ambassador Theatre marquee. A building that I would love to have in downtown yet today... what a 1990's tear down shame! In 1996 to be exact...One of the most disgraceful destruction of any building (besides the century) in Downtown STL IMO.



Speaking of signage: The FAMOUS BARR sign facing south on the roof is gone - letters coming down today 08/09. An end of a era! Soon to grace the new signage of MACY'S. Bitter sweet in some ways too.



Here are some sites about the Abassador Theatre - can you image... if someone could have just waited 10 years longer with downtown St. Louis' revitalization and ressurgence... this theatre palace may have been reopened. If you go to the Des Peres Wherenberg Theatre - that theatre was being built simultaneaously to the Ambassador's death... and now graces all of the lobby chandeliers of the old Ambassador... amazingly beautiful!



http://www.builtstlouis.net/vanish01a.html



http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2351/



http://www.buildingmuseum.org/recovery/ ... ssador.htm

Sorry Matt, I think this photo is taken from the southwest. Note the front of the Union Trust 705 Olive building just to the west of May/Macy's Railway Exchange. Abassador Theater was just up 7th, behind the Union Trust. Union Trust was designed by Louis Sullivan, who also designed the Wainwright, and was mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. I'm a nerd.

JCity wrote:Union Trust was designed by Louis Sullivan, who also designed the Wainwright, and was mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. I'm a nerd.

Well, if knowing that makes you a nerd, then I suspect you just called most of the other people on this forum a nerd as well...

matguy70 wrote:Here are some sites about the Abassador Theatre - can you image... if someone could have just waited 10 years longer with downtown St. Louis' revitalization and ressurgence... this theatre palace may have been reopened. If you go to the Des Peres Wherenberg Theatre - that theatre was being built simultaneaously to the Ambassador's death... and now graces all of the lobby chandeliers of the old Ambassador... amazingly beautiful!

I know! We'd probably be able to watch movies downtown now had the it been preserved. The 90's were a tough time for downtown.