Macy’s ‘Bold New Chapter’ 

Macy’s has announced that it will shutter 150 “unproductive” stores nationwide. Pictured here, the Herald Square flagship in Manhattan.

Which Macy’s stores are closing in our area? The answer is we don’t know yet. The stores that have been announced as closing thus far are not in our neck of the woods but in San Leandro and Simi Valley, California; Tallahassee, Florida; Lihue, Hawaii; and Arlington, Virginia.   

What we do know is that with a new CEO, Tony Spring; a status-quo fourth quarter performance; and a desire to stave off a takeover bid and put the corporation on a more upscale footing, Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) is shuttering about 150 “unproductive” stores nationwide. At the same time, Macy’s will invest more resources in some 350 “go-forward” locations and expand its Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury footprints by up to 45 locations – all through 2026 in a strategy called “A Bold New Chapter.” 

“A Bold New Chapter serves as a strong call to action,” said Spring, who formerly helmed sister store Bloomingdale’s.  “It challenges the status quo to create a more modern Macy’s Inc. We are making the necessary moves to reinvigorate relationships with our customers through improved shopping experiences, relevant assortments and compelling value. Our teams are energized by the work ahead as we accelerate our path to market share gains, sustainable, profitable growth and value creation for our shareholders.”   

Breaking down the numbers further, this means closing about one-third of the 150 stores on the chopping block by the end of this fiscal year; and opening 15 Bloomingdale’s nameplate stores and at least 30 new Bluemercury stores, along with roughly 30 Bluemercury remodels, in new and existing markets over the next three years. (The more upscale Bloomingdale’s outperforms Macy’s and has of late been experimenting with smaller-outlet stores called Bloomie’s – like the sleek offering in the multipurpose Mosaic District in Fairfax, Virginia. The tony Bluemercury is part of the ascendant beauty and skincare industry and recently opened a more personalized location in Bronxville.)  Macy’s moves, the company said, will enable it to monetize $600 million to $750 million through 2026. 

Westchester and Fairfield counties have a stake in what Macy’s does with its eponymous stores and those brands under its umbrella. There are five Macy’s locations in the two counties – in Yonkers, Yorktown Heights, Danbury, Stamford  and Trumbell – as well as one in West Nyack in Rockland County and one in Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County. There are two Bloomingdale’s stores, in White Plains and Norwalk. And there are five area Bluemercury locations, besides the one in Bronxville – Rye, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan and Westport.