TWe welcome thoughtful comments and respectful opinions that help make the case for the restoration of Marshall Field's to State Street and elsewhere. Off-topic, obviously incorrect, disrespectful or abusive posts will removed at the host's discretion, although an attempt will be made to contact the author, assuming a valid email address is provided with the post. The ethos is conversational--corrections are welcomed. Differing or opposing views are welcome and such posts should respect that this is a blog for opinions of Field's supporters. Due to problems with spam attacks--some even from those opposed to our cause--during certain periods, posts are moderated. As a result, it may take up to seven days for your post to appear, but usually it will take less than a day, and sometimes even immediately. Thank you for your patience, support, and written contributions.
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Below are blog posts from November 1, 2009 backwards to May 1, 2009.
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Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009 8:23 pm CT
Posted by: Susan
I remember when we used to bring our precious family heirloom photos to Marshall Field's to be restored.
This morning I was reading the coupon inserts of the Sunday paper and it had an ad for Olan Mills photos at Kmart, Meijer and MACY'S!
Macy's portrait studios by the same people who do this for discount stores.
How low can Macy's go?
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009 11:18 am CT
Posted by: Andrew B
I display a "Marshall Field's Forever" button on my back pack whereever I go.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009 3:02 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Chicago Tribune has an article about the new owners of the Chicago Cubs, the Ricketts family. As I read it, I was struck by how the Ricketts "get" what the Cubs and Wrigley Field are all about and I am reminded of that other "universe" where Terry Lundgren and Macy's, Inc. does not have a similar understanding of Marshall Field's and the State Street store.
The Ricketts "get" that it's Wrigley Field that makes the franchise. They have a great passion and understanding that it's all about Wrigley Field. So as I read the story, I couldn't help but hypothesize that if Macy's took over Wrigley Field, they would rename the stadium, tear it down and build a new one that has the ambience of a shopping mall or suburban office park, and bring in some lame players (OK, some might argue the last part is already happening ;-) ) Still, I came away from the read wishing and hoping for new stewards to take over 111 N State Street who would do so in the same spirit that the Ricketts are taking over the Cubs and Wrigley Field.
Macy's doesn't "get" that without Marshall Field's, 111 N State is just the same old ball game you find everywhere.
The Tribune article can also be viewed at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-sun-ricketts-cubs-nov01,0,210568.story.
Date: Friday, October 30, 2009 5:42 am CT
Posted by: Susan
I suppose the Donald, Martha, Tommy et al will be chief among the few celebrating in the aisle at Macy's this season. A desperate party, it is. When you have nothing left, drop names and service.
Just after the takeover there was a TV series on life at Macy's- clever of them. When the Christmas decoration segment was shown, I was horrified to see it was clear that they tacked the State St store at the last minute onto the end of their NY designer's to-do list, and it was desperately executed, probably not at the scale Fieldsians are accustomed to. One may ask what happened to the MF staff then and now, that the NY guys had to take care of it.
This year's windows should all be on the theme of the Ghost of Christmas Past. A bit of gauze and fluff - maybe stick in a photo (don't need a big one) of the window from some previous year, in memoriam, and you're done. I suppose you could just tape the photo to the window and forget the fluff. Or throw it on the floor and save the expense of tape. Or just pull down the shade. Bah humbug!
Seriously, folks- maybe they will surprise us and make it wonderful. Wait and see!
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:29 pm CT
Posted by: Mike C.
I see according to Messy's corporate web page they are rolling out AGAIN the "Believe" marketing campaign for Christmas! Please not the mailboxes and the unimaginative dysfunctional window displays again this year!
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:13 am CT
Posted by: Mitch
Last night, on TV, it was brought to my attention that Macy's has been a part of my life for 150 years.
This comes as news to me as I'm only 59. I remember an R.H. Macy's I used to visit in Manhattan. Sort of a Carson's on steroids, but not as reserved.
What was a part of my life was Marshall Field and Company. I can't remember a Field's commercial that had to tell me they were a part of my life. Like every other deep rooted Chicagoan no one had to tell me. Field's knew they were memorable.
At this time of year my thoughts go back to when I first was brought to Field's by my Mom. For years the standard admonition was, "We're going downtown to Field's. You have to wear a sport coat and tie."
The forst time I became aware of Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas," was while waiting for an elevator with my Mom on the 4th floor (children's toys, clothing,and hobbies.) I cans still see the image in my mind. That one bank of elevators had yet to streamlined. There was the ornamental woodwork, and the cars were still open. I remember crowded elevator cars zooming up and down in full view.
It was Marshall Field's that was part of my life, and one day soon will be again. I find commercials such as the one I discribed above offensive as it tells me something I resent because it just isn't true.
Mitch
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:23 am CT
Posted by: Paul
Back in the summer of 2006, I remember on this blog about someone who sat in business class on a plane next to a Macy's exec.
He talked with the exec about how they planned to slowly phase out the rest of Marshall Field's traditions and even downsize the store to fewer floors. Part of it was even leasing out the Walnut room to some company along the lines of the Cheesecake factory.
I wasn't sure about that story when it appeared here.
Three years later, with the tree reduced to something like a repeat of last year's tree and next to nothing about the store windows, I can only conclude that story was for real.
Macy's is a big bait and switcher.
Not just a name change.
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:25 pm CT
Posted by: gle
An October 23, 2009 press release from Macysinc.com website announces a quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share for shareholders of record as of COB December 15, 2009.
"Macy's, Inc. Board Declared Quarterly Dividend"
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1345735&highlight=
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009 11:09 am CT
Posted by: Cheng
We miss Chicago haved Marshall Field store.
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:30 am CT
Posted by: Jeff S.
Was in the Oak Brook store yesterday. Was wandering around the candy department and saw something "new" that I had never seen before. By the bulk candies there are little signs by each tray of candy that say "homemade in our candy kitchen". I would like to know where is the candy kitchen that they are talking about. Surely, it is not State Street's famed 13th floor--or is it? The little tickets by each tray of candy are red and white.
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:34 am CT
Posted by: Pete
Macy's 102nd Christmas tree?????
HOW DARE THEY!?
Macy's 150th birthday? Lundgrinch says we shouldn't get emotional about shopping. Then why does he think we should care about Macy's 150th birthday?
Date: Friday, October 23, 2009 4:40 pm CT
Posted by: Lindsay
Ever since I was a little girl, and ever since my mother was a little girl, we would make a special shopping trip at Christmas time, JUST to see Field's window displays. Growing up, we lived in a nearby suburb in Indiana and were no strangers to Chicago during other parts of the year - especially when the Cubbies were at home! However, there was just nothing that could compare to our special Christmas trip each year.
Even though I am grown up now and don't live up north anymore, my husband knows how special those trips were to me and would plan a trip for me to visit Marshall Field's. Now that Macy's are everywhere, what's the point?
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009 4:40 pm CT
Posted by: Steve
I found your website by accident, but must say I support what you do 100%!!
I live in Houston, where our local Foley's chain was acquired by Macy's. Now nothing compares to Marshall Field's and its international rep, but Foley's was a local Houston tradition, eliminated overnight with the sweep of a pen, and all stores now are Macy's. There are now two Macy's within 100 yards of each other!
I am outraged by what Macy's did to Marshall Fields. I visited Chicago often, and admit that Marshall Fields was something special. I will do anything I can to help you guys if asked!
I am so sick of giant companies and their CEOs screwing with our traditions and way of life in America!
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 11:00 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
The info about Marshall Field's and the cookies mentioned in Jimmy Gimbel's post below can be found at http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-1021-lost-recipesoct21-htmlstory,0,3363415.htmlstory I would have missed that were it not for "Jimmy's" post.
While I certainly think Macy's is no match for Marshall Field's, I don't think one can infer that Macy's is responsible ("officially" or otherwise) for State Street's long history of having a number of dicount-type and off-price stores.
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 8:25 pm CT
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
Two interesting items in the October 21 edition of the Chicago Tribune:
First of all, the Good Eating section is featuring "Lost recipies, found". Go read it to get a recipe for Marshall Field's hermit cookies with mochca frosting! The article states, "Chicagoans still mourn the conversion of Marshall Field's to Macy's From myriad reader requests we received, it looks like baked goods from store's restaurants and bake shops are among the most missed elements."
Sad, but true. I had many a great meal at Marshall Field's.
Meanwhile, in the business section: "Block 37 future unknown again." Bank of America and ther lenders have moved to foreclose on the project. Many of the original tenants have cancelled plans to open in the space located across the street from the beloved Marshall Field's buidling.
I love this quote from the story: "Then the recession hit. Major chains balked at paying $100 to $150 a square foot in rent for an untested mall on a shopping strip known for discount chains..." Did you hear that Macy's? You've official turned State Street into a discount strip mall. HA!
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 7:15 pm CT
Posted by: drew
I recently received an email advertisement from Kohl's featuring their new lines of dinnerware. Kohl's now stocks various china patterns from Mikasa, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Nikko, Royal Albert, Johnson Brothers and Franciscan.
These lines were formerly carried at "better" department stores like Kaufmann's, Marshall Field's, Hudson's, Filene's, Burdine's, Strawbridge and Clothier, Lazarus, Rich's and others. Evidently these manufacturers don't want to have their china associated with a no class store like the Red Star. Fortunately, The Bon Ton, Dillard's, and Belk STILL stock an assortment of quality dinnerware.
We have Franciscan Desert Rose which is an open stock pattern and has been in continuous production for many years. I stopped at the Red Star china department and asked if this pattern was available. The clerk sighed and said, "We haven't carried that since this store was Kaufmann's. There are always customers looking for better china lines that we no longer have." I looked around the china department and said, "How much demand do you have for all this Martha Stewart dishware?" The clerk shook her head and said, "Almost none. It just sits there and they have to mark it way down to get rid of it."
Martha Stewart dinnerware. How tacky!
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:30 pm CT
Posted by: drew
This Wall Street Journal article names macy*mart as one of "the worst run companies of 2009":http://www.thestreet.com/story/10614801/2/the-worst-run-companies-of-2009.htmlEvidently Terry and the board of directors STILL haven't gotten the memo: a nationwide chain of bland, boring, overpriced, nondescript quasi "department stores" trading on the reputation of a once-iconic New York retailer is an abject failure which hasn't worked and won't work. The chain is "caught in the squeeze" because it offers neither distinctive quality merchandise nor great value.
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 3:06 pm CT
Posted by: Jim
Newcity is running its annual Best of Chicago survey. Under goods & services? Vote for "Best Imaginary Twitter Post by Marshall Field."
To vote for the "Best Imaginary Twitter Post by Marshall Field", go to http://newcity.bestofchicago.sgizmo.com
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:28 am CT
Posted by: Linda in GA
We have a building, the Hand Trading Company Building, built in 1916 that was modeled after the Marshall Field's Building.http://www.mitchellcountyga.net/html/pelham.html
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:37 pm CT
Posted by: gle
Macy's ads make me sick.
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:00 am CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who responded about today's Letter to the Tribune Editor contrasting Marshall Field's and Macy's ads.
The letter to the editor that all Field's supporters should respond to can be found on page 14 of today's home delivery, broad sheet edition.
It can also be found on the web at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-1020vplettersbriefs2oct20,0,3670396.story
Because the letter is in print, please be certain to email a response to the editor as well as comment in the the comments section after the online version. Send your letters to the editor at the "Tribune" at ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com. This is important because the response to such letters also demonstrate to the Tribune whether our cause is still of general interest and worthy of future coverage.
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 8:46 am CT
Posted by: Jack
Great Letter to the Editor in this morning's Tribune. A Lombard woman (thank you Ms. Lebeau) wrote to comment that "I miss the dignity that was protrayed in Field's ads"... with reference to a Macy-Calvin Klein ad featuring "a young woman wearing a pained look on her face and Calvin Klein underwear". Her closing comment echoes how we all feel about classless Macy. "How about some Modesty in Merchandising" What may look good in NYC or even LA is offensive to many of us.
Macy does not get it on so many levels. Marshall Fields was always a "class act". Even in its later days when $$ issues made things not as perfect as before, one could still go to the Walnut Room at Christmas, look at the windows and be reminded of a time when things were not so hurried, and people (think the Walnut room waitresses Hostess/Host and staff) were civil to one another. Another Christmas is soon upon us, and again, I WILL NOT BE SETTING FOOT IN A MACY STORE!!. I am fortunate to have above average spending power. One gift will come from Tiffany. (Great items especially in Sterling Silver jewelry). Another gift was bought at the Art Institute gift store. I do shop with my feet at least 80% of the time. I'll spend about $1000 this Christmas. See Ya Macy .... NOT. Terry L, ARE YOU LISTENING??? Give CHICAGO what it wants, its BELOVED Marshall Fields.
JACK
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 7:59 am CT
Posted by: Martha Haastrom
Great Letter in today's Chicago Tribune about Marshall Field's. It's been a while since I have looked at the Letters because for a while there, they printed so few and had all those unneeded photos.
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 7:04 am CT
Posted by: S.E.
Tribune has a voice of the people about Marshall Field's today.
Date: Monday, October 19, 2009 9:58 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Macy's could learn a lot from Apple.
A couple of others have had similar comments--and back several years ago, I was involved in a large grant from Apple as part of work.
Based on that, I'd like point out a few things, given today's many news stories about Apple's 47% increase in profits in the quarter just ended.
First, Apple has some great commonalities, but is not exactly the same as Marshall Field's: for starters, Apple's first and foremost motto would not be "Give the lady (or gentleman) what she (he) wants".
However, let's face it, Apple has expensive products but people are still finding the money to buy them during this horrible recession because they are a great value. The products are of the best quality, the service in the Apple stores is supreme because the staff exudes how much they love to work there, and the stores are more than a place to shop--they are a destination with a great experience that is exciting, entertaining, and educational.
Marshall Field's on State Street used to be like that for people all around the world as well as we Chicagoans. When Macy's took over, the State Street store went to being like an Apple store to being like just another PC dealer.
Apple demonstrates the best of American ingenuity and retailing; Macy's on State Street demonstrates what is wrong with American retailing.
What's more, Apple was given up for dead by all the "experts" back about 13-14 years ago. Then had a stock price around $15. Today, Apple is back stronger than ever, with a stock price that hit over $200 yesterday. Now, clearly there are some differences between Apple circa 1996 and Marshall Field's circa 2008; however, it's another comeback story that we can point to, that yes, Field's can and will come back.
Date: Monday, October 19, 2009 11:25 am CT
Posted by: DAWN C.
Although I now reside in Arizona, I flinch every time I go back for a visit to Chicago. Macy's? Ugh! NOT THE SAME!
I wear Marshall Field's pin-on buttons proudly not only on my visits home, but here, in Arizona, for those who know and love Marshall Field's as I do and always will.
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2009 6:39 am CT
Posted by: Jim McMahon
I have never been inside the new Macy store in Chicago and cannot bring myself to do it. I continue playing the mega lotto just in case it comes up for sale.
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2009 3:02 pm CT
Posted by: gle
Just what Chicago doesn't need is another Messy's eyesore in place of a Christmas tree. Judging from what is already up in the 6th floor holiday trim department--lots of RED, avacado green and garish plumes--I don't expect anything worthy of a special trip downtown. I actually had to look around for the religious and the Santa decorations. Apparently that's not what it's about anymore, at least not at Messy's.
How I remember the pleasant trips and holiday festiveness at Marshall Field's. Everybody seemed happy to be there--and EVERYBODY was there. And everybody I talk to still wants to be there.
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009 9:36 pm CT
Posted by: Mike
http://mobile.associatedcontent.com/article/2209279/analysis_steps_to_avoid_a_macys_bankruptcy.html
Thought you guys would find this interesting. Macy's was once a great name in retailing. If Macy's did this and brought back Field's, I would be their #1 customer.
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:24 pm CT
Posted by: Caroline L
I live in Scotland and my first visit to Chicago in 1999 was great but what really made my stay was Marshall Field's, which we visited on several occasions. As a 'plus size' lady the range in Field's was amazing and I spent a fortune in Ralph Lauren and on bags, gifts, etc. We have been back in Chicago a couple of times since, the last time in 2003, and I was devastated to learn that it was being taken over by Macy's. The first stop for us after dropping the cases at the hotel was a visit to State Street! I yearn to return to Chicago and would urge them to keep the Marshall Field's stores the way they were as it was truly "The" emporium of all times. Harrods is good but, for me, Marshall Field's was better.
I am delighted to read of your campaign and wish you every success so that I and others may continue to shop in this wonderful store.
Caroline
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009 9:16 am CT
Posted by: BLJ
I was just through the downtown store and you would think it was December 24th. You can tell they have no staff and have to start decking the halls in mid-October. I don't remember Field's doing this. Are they not having windows this holiday season? They currently have "come together" stuff in them...wouldn't they be under construction for Christmas at this point, and it is strange they are not advertised in the ad in Chicago Magazine.
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009 7:21 am CT
Posted by: T.J.
As a former Chicagoland resident now living in the Atlanta area, I grew up with Marshall Field's and was a big fan of theirs. The change to Macy's has been disappointing to say the least.
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009 6:29 am CT
Posted by: Paul
"Dead apathy" is spot on! I live near Oak Brook, going into that store is like Zombie-town. You can tell it was nice before, but it's like the aliens have landed & made all the employees numb to the world. Automatons . . . robots! I miss the personal service, quality merchandise, and people who gave a damn about making shopping a pleasurable experience, not a chore!
Date: Friday, October 16, 2009 12:51 pm CT
Posted by: Susan
Is it possible to purchase someone else's history? If it wasn't before, it is now, at 111 State, at the foot of the 102-year-old Macy's traditional-tree. Phooey.
Date: Friday, October 16, 2009 10:20 am CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Page 49 of the November 2009 issue of "Chicago" magazine has a full page ad about this year's Christmas Tree at Macy's on State.(In the shape of a Christmas Tree)This is followed by a "Magic of Macy's" logo.
Macy's great tree lighting
(text)
Saturday, November 7th at Noon, Macy's on State Street.
Light up the nights this holioday season. Join us in the Walnut Room for the 102nd unveiling of Macy's Great Tree. Be dazzled by visions of brilliant stars, glimmering lights, timeless ornaments and toys from Santa's Workshop on our 45-foot tall tree.
The tree will be on display through Sunday, January 10, 2010.
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009 9:19 am CT
Posted by: gw
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=M%3AUS&sid=a_n5jYAHotUUThis is an interesting interview with Howard Davidowitz who is still very negative about Macy's and their terrible integration of May stores, including Marshall Field's. Be sure to click the "video" tab to hear the full comments.
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:45 pm CT
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
Want to see Macy's from an employee perspective?
Go to www.jobvent.com and search for Macy's.
Oh, my goodness! You'll get a real jolt from some of stories shared by employees. It even worst than we thought kids.
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:57 pm CT
Posted by: Bonnie
I live in the South Loop and went out to watch the marathon runners on Sunday. There was a guy wearing a shirt about bringing back marshall field's. The crowd, including me and my whole family, got a big kick out of it. I have never written to this blog before, but I thought you should know. Chicago is behind you.
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:17 pm CT
Posted by: John Robertson
My wife and I were in Chicago in 2005, and we spent most of our one week vacation in Marshall Fields. My wife named Marshall Fields "the best department store on earth." The stores warm style and decor, massive inventory, onsite cafeteria, well-prepared food, and friendly personnel set Marshall Fields apart from most of the department stores where we shop. The only other department store with this level of class is Harrods in London. It would be a shame to diminish the shopping experience by converting this fine store into a Macy's. I urge the owner's of Macy's to leave this store, which is steeped in tradition, alone and allow it to continue it's legacy of excellence and style.
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:44 pm CT
Posted by: Cheryl A
I miss Marshall Fields! I HATE MACY'S!
I miss Marshall Fields! I HATE MACY'S!
I miss Marshall Fields! I HATE MACY'S!
I miss Marshall Fields! I HATE MACY'S!
I miss Marshall Fields! I HATE MACY'S!
I miss Marshall Fields! I HATE MACY'S!
I miss Marshall Fields! I HATE MACY'S!
Oh and did I say I hate Macy's??
Date: Monday, October 12, 2009 11:41 pm CT
Posted by: Natalie
I live in Bloomington; some of my earliest memories involve my mom and I riding up to Chicago on the train, shopping/eating at Marshall Field's. It crushes me that Marshall Field's is no longer the moniker on the State Street store, but it will always be Marshall Field's to me. : ( We have a deep and abiding love for the store and how we were treated while in it.
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2009 9:08 pm CT
Posted by: Drew
I was in downtown Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon. I had seen an item in a Red Star Columbus Day sales flyer that interested me, so I decided to check it out. I went to the department, but could not find the advertised item. When I asked the sales associate about the item, I was told the downtown store didn't stock it. The salesperson said, "macy*s doesn't merchandise its stores all the same and some items are only at certain stores." The salesperson said that customers come to the store looking for advertised merchandise and become angry when told the items aren't available in that particular store.
The salesperson has worked in retail for many years and "never saw a company run like macy*s." Multiple concurrent sales, inconsistent merchandising, identical items priced differently at stores in the same market area, confusing coupons are some problems the sales associate mentioned. The person stated that the "original macy*s stores" get different assortments than the converted Kaufmann's stores.
I said I was surprised the downtown Pittsburgh store didn't have the full assortment since it was Kaufmann's flagship location. The clerk laughed and said "this isn't a flagship anymore." Although the downtown store was Kaufmann's best producing store, it is like 550 out of 800 macy*s stores. The associate said the management complains that sales and customer traffic have steeply dropped since the conversion, but "they don't sell what people want to buy."
We shared a few laughs about the "celebrity" merchandise and "imitation" designers. I truly feel sorry for the salespeople who are unable to meet their goals and must deal with unhappy customers because of the sheer arrogance and stupidity of Terry and his inept management staff.
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2009 2:08 pm CT
Posted by: Carol B.
YES PLEASE REOPEN MARSHAL FIELDS. FROM ALLISON, CAROL. DAVID. BOB
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2009 1:59 pm CT
Posted by: gle
As the Christmas holiday season draws near, I think of the fun of going through Field's to see what would be there. I remember checking the Walnut Room for what date the tree would be up. In later years I enjoyed observing my end-of-November birthday there after work with Eggnog and Jul Log Cake. It was best to go as early in the season as possible before crowds jammed the 6th floor trim-a-home shop, the wonderful holiday-themed windows on State Street and anyplace in the store where a person needed to buy gifts. Marshall Field's was such a joyful place to be, even when it got crowded.
I cherish my first trip to Field's to see Santa, and how fantastically overwhelming it was to a small child who had never even been downtown before.
The dead apathy at Messy's is SO different from what I remember at Field's. My "I want my Marshall Field's" button is now drawing comments from other people thinking toward the holiday season who wish they still had Marshall Field's to enjoy. We all hope a day will come when someone owns the store who can return the experience of shopping at Field's. It is an experience Chicago needs now as never before.
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2009 12:42 pm CT
Posted by: Dick Larkin
Here's an award winning video about the history of Marshall Field, the man, the store and the impact.
It also includes a rare interview with Marshall Field V.
http://blog.commandomarketing.com/2009/10/marhsall-fields-amazing-impact-on-chicago/
The video was produced for the National History Day by my daughter when she was an 8th grader. It won the City of Chicago competition and won a Superior Mark at the State competition in Springfield.
Without Marshall Field, the steel mills would not have been built in Chicago or Gary.
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009 9:37 pm CT
Posted by: jeffrey b.
i am so sorry to hear macy's has taken over the fields brand. i was a manufacturer's representative for to fields and a loyal consumer. macy's has the reputation of making the retail experience a generic shopping outing. one has to wonder when wal-mart will move into the building occupied by the former fields.
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009 6:10 am CT
Posted by: Susan
I follow Project Runway. This year they have been 'captured' by M--y so the M name is mentioned every week when the designers are reminded to use accessories from the wall of shelves displaying same from M--y. M--y also recently surfaced in Top Chef territory, revealing a noble plan to feed the poor; the winner received a $10K gift card. They don't have time for mere trees because they obviously have a Higher Calling. I don't know how they might inveigle their way into SYTYCan Dance unless they decide to support the arts by pushing deodorant or liniment. (Did I just hear one of them say why didn't we think of that? Gift boxes all round!) Actually, that may be coming when the Top Twenty are chosen. Stay tuned.
Date: Friday, October 9, 2009 8:27 pm CT
Posted by: JasonM
Still haven't bought one thing at Macy's - no clothes, no furniture, no watch repair... all things I would buy at Field's especially State Street.
Macy's has to start closing stores in Chicago. Yeah, I don't want to see them go bankrupt but they have to listen to the consumer (because we're not customers). If they don't listen, then maybe they should go out of business.
Date: Friday, October 9, 2009 2:31 pm CT
Posted by: E.H.
Our family misses Fields!
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009 12:40 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Like "Jimmy Gimbels", I also have been wondering about the status of the Walnut Room Tree and Christmas windows theme for State Street. (Clearly, they won't have the FAO Schwarz windows at State and Randolph.)
Regarding the September sales report, keep in mind also that Macy's has included its online sales as well in the overall figures. Those are up significantly--14.8% last month. That's not surprising because of the proliferation of the internet.
One has to wonder what same stores sales would be like if internet sales were taken out of the picture.
The full press-release (which isn't very long, IMHO), is at:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1339995&highlight=
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009 8:20 am CT
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
Retail report out today (10/08/09).
Macy's had a 2.3 percent decline, less than the 4.6 percent drop that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had projected.
Penney had a 1.4 percent decline for September, lower than the 3.5 percent decline Wall Street estimated.
Interesting how analysts always project greater sales declines at Macy's than the stores competitors: Penny's, Kohl's, and WalMart.
By the way Macy's, you're late getting out the press release about the no-so-great tree in the formerly famous Walnut Room.
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 5:40 pm CT
Posted by: gle
An official Messy's press release from the macysinc.com website announces the winner of a Project Runway contest to design an exclusive holiday dress for Messy's "INC International Concept brands."
"INC Dress to be Available in Select Macy's Stores in December."
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1339150&highlight=
While having nothing against this person or Project Runway (and I will admit I don't know a great deal about either), I think a beneficial "holiday dress" for Messy's and for State Street would be to simply re-design the whole store back into Marshall Field's. The first time I ever went to Marshall Field's was during Christmastime at age five, and now 50 years later I really miss having it to go to as we approach another holiday season. That's what I think of every time I WALK PAST Messy's.
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 11:07 am CT
Posted by: JamesfromCA
I saw this picture , it says it all. The location is Columbia Mall, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AcUdTl7Aq-s/Sj_fi-4nX_I/AAAAAAAANjw/dM-OBYga2sc/s1600-h/ColMall_2_MatchboxND.jpg
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 10:39 am CT
Posted by: Bette E
I worked at Fields in the 60s while studying in Cnicago.
I moved to California and brought my family to the Christmas windows each year until it became another Macy's. I have not been in the store--or any Macy's--since.
Anyone can have Macys but Fields represents the history of our lives.
Date: Monday, October 5, 2009 12:39 am CT
Posted by: Kathy Koehler
I was born and raised in Chicago and there was no other store like Marshall Field's. Listen to Chicago and "give the city what it wants" - Marshall Field's on State Street! When I come back to visit Chicago, it's just not the same without Marshall Field's. Plese bring Marshall Field's back - we will never patronize Macy's.
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2009 4:41 pm CT
Posted by: Charles Celestine
I have grown to hate Macy's even more each year. The ads and products sold are no longer as specific per region. Federated had the best names in regional department store retail, but instead of choosing brands to grow they have forced Macy's down our throat like a dressed up Wal-Mart. It's sad to think designers like Vera Wang bring affordable lines to Kohl's when you would expect to see these clothes in a Macy's store instead.
I can remember the day when the entry designer lines by top names were sold in our regional department stores along with new names who hadn't made it big yet. Now we are forced to deal with Macy's store brands that knock off clothes from the affordable lines sold at discount stores without the discount price.
I also hate the fact that you rarely get a paper shopping bag anymore, even if the items you have purchased are too heavy for the thin plastic bags Macy's gives you. Macy's has no clue why we shopped at department stores........for me it was always the experience, now Macy's is just another store with no customer service and cheap plastic bags.
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009 10:40 pm CT
Posted by: Rich
Another Holiday season draws near and ANOTHER year without our Beloved Marshall Field's
It used to be SO easy -- I would pick a Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas -- usually the first weekend of December -- and I would spend all day at State Street and ALL my wants and needs would be answered in Grand style. Field's would provide wonderful answers for Christmas -- Luch in the Walnut room would be a wonderful mid shopping rest--If I needed to order anything -- Field's would have it delivered to my home on time for Christmas.
And SO MANY little things for work associates that I would have to choose between multiple options that would all be great as a smaller gift for the Holidays.
How I miss those full Green, or special Holiday, Bags!
9 Floors and one day and it would be complete -- Not Replaceable!
To The Great Once and Future Marshall Field's
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009 4:02 pm CT
Posted by: drew
This Detroit Free Press blog survey "What Store Do You Miss?" offers many negative comments about the Red Star.http://detroit.momslikeme.com/members/JournalActions.aspx?g=190182&m=7697043I would suspect that the folks who took time to comment about the Red Star are but a tiny fraction of those who share the same dislike of the lackluster replacement for their beloved Hudson's/Marshall Field's.
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009 8:49 am CT
Posted by: drew
More from your friends at the Red Star--their credit card with a 106.08% APR. Be sure to watch the video after you read the article.http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/21190025/detail.htmlThey recently raised the APR on regular credit cards to 24.99%--yet ANOTHER reason NOT to have a Red Star credit card. Tell everyone you know about the Red Star's newest way to alienate and antagonize their rapidly dwindling customer base.
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009 6:40 am CT
Posted by: Susan
Seeing a comment here about Field's as a historic monument -- made me think many others must have had similar thoughts. After watching Ken Burns' National Parks this week, enthralled and moved and inspired- I could not help but think, while Field's State Street might not qualify for National Monument status, for some of us it ranks up there. It has offered a treasured experience to so many of Americans as well as foreign visitors, it has been there so long, through trials and tribulations and triumphs.... it represents a real pioneer success story (those merchants were right out there on the frontier if there was someone they could sell to!) C3 one that was still being written til Macy's pulled the pen.
It might be difficult to convince some people to give such honor to a mere merchandising concern, but MF was so much more than that. Framing it in its proper historic context, and giving recognition to its place in architectural history, and honoring the Field name in the development of Chicago's cultural identity.... not so small a consideration after all.
One thing I got out of the National Parks series is that somehow seers have arisen, one after another, to challenge small thinking, and pivotal holders of power have allowed themselves to get the point, and give support. A second thing became clear: the fundamental truth that the experience of placesC3of all kindsC3can help define each of us as individuals and as a nation.
While shopping is not the same as struggling for the right to shopC3 the concepts presented in the program such as "returning [to a nature] home," revisiting a familiar and beloved place and passing the experience on to one's children, and honoring those exceptional sites which have given shape to one's character and life-experienceC3do have bearing on the Field's issue.
It is small wonder so many of us across the land are upset over the Macy debacle.
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009 6:24 pm CT
Posted by: Bob
Any word on who has designed this years Tree and what the theme will be? Macy's is really slow on this.
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009 5:42 pm CT
Posted by: A Field's Fan
This theatre prodcution mentions Marshall Field's in passing during the show. It ellicits a positive and exceited response from the crowd.
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2009/10/superior-donuts-broadway-review-tracy-letts-michael-mckean.html
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2009 11:20 pm CT
Posted by: LWK
After three years I still hate Marcy's!!
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2009 4:17 pm CT
Posted by: Rebecca S.
I lived in Evanston for two years and loved shopping at Marshall Fields, and it's one of the things that made Chicago unique and differents.
My malls here in North Carolina have Macy's here, and I can't even bring myself to shop in those, even if I have seen that they sell Frango mints. No! Those are Marshall Fields.
Even though I'm not in Chicago, I proudly wear a button here in North Carolina.
Know you have supporters outside of the greater Chicago area.
It's a travesty, and Chicago should get back its Marshall Fields.
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:54 pm CT
Posted by: B. LaBarbera
Marshall Field's was more than a store; it should have been designated an historical landmark! Field's was a way of living, and it distilled the very essence of the Chicago which I knew and loved; Macy's is the antithesis of all which Marshall Field's represented. PLEASE BRING MARSHALL FIELD'S BACK!!! Thank you!
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 1:14 pm CT
Posted by: Lillian C.
I am a Chicago native now living in Pittsburgh. I was cruising around the web looking for the Chicago 2016 site and saw this one. I am shocked that Marshall Field's was bought out and replaced by Macy's. I have to agree with some of the other comments on this thread that Macy's is turning into an overpriced KMart. It's that way here in Pittsburgh, where they also destroyed a longtime local favorite high quality store - Kauffman's. Why do these retail monsters feel that they have to constantly appeal to the lowest common denominator? I remember going to Marshall Field's on State Street every Christmas season to see the windows, and have lunch with my Mom in the Walnut Room. I loved that store! Bring back Marshall Field's!!!!
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:17 am CT
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
After those wacky folks at Macy's made so much noise about their latest designer exclusive, let's take a look at what Tommy Hilfiger has to offer us for our Fall wardrobe.
First of all, the selection is quite small. Mostly sweaters with a few jackets and shirts tossed on the table. And true to Macy's, the prices are outlandish and the quality is sub par.
The sweaters are soooooo thin that you might need to layer three or four to actually stay warm. Think paper thin. Is that decorative stitching I see? No, just uneven stitching around the collar.
Are those loose buttons on the jacket. Why yes they are. How trendy. It must be that the decontructed look is back in style.
Please explain to me, dear readers, why the mannequin in the Tommy H area is dressed in INC clothing.
Well, like the sign says, "Only at Macy's". How true.
I also went to visit my "friend" in the Frango Shop. Yes, that box of Frango Mints from Christmas 2006 is still on sale at Macy's. I dusted it off and put it back on the top shelf next to the organic Frango Mints that are also quite dusty.
I've notice that out dear Martha was moved out of the prime spots in Housewares. Not selling well dear?
All I want for Christmas is Marshall Fields.
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 5:30 pm CT
Posted by: S.B.
To elaborate...
It may be beneficial for Macy's Inc. to consider selling some of the trademarks/real estate it has acquired over the years. Considering the slump in sales, it would be a wise move to get some cash by selling the Field's trademark and 111 N State Street to a PE firm. It would be the best use of the assets that Macy's has acquired and it would allow for them to still have a presence in Chicago through Water Tower. From a business perspective, it just makes a lot of sense to release some assets rather than go bankrupt! The true value of building + the trademark is where they'd get the most.
Date: Monday, September 28, 2009 5:21 pm CT
Posted by: L. Grand
There may be an explanation as to why macy*s Board of Directors and shareholders are silent, and have been.
Undoubtedly, these people must see that he has brought ruin to the company. However, I believe he gets a golden parachute whether he's fired or is retained. And his contract expires in 2010? With that in mind, perhaps the board and/or shareholders would like him to "pay" somehow for his eventual golden parachute, by keeping him on to bear the brunt of criticism, ill-will, and mockery that he's brought upon himself by his attitude and actions. I suppose if I was a board member and knew he would fly away rich either way, it would only serve justice to have him stick around and take all the flak that he's engendered, knowing and awaiting the day when he will see us waving goodbye and saying "Good riddance." Just my thoughts.
L. Grand
Grand Rapids, MI
Date: Monday, September 28, 2009 2:19 pm CT
Posted by: drew
As readers of this blog can attest, the Red Star has indeed "fallen short" in its meager attempts to differentiate itself and to connect with customers:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Department-Stores-Are-Focused-ms-2840199169.html?x=0&.v=1
Date: Monday, September 28, 2009 11:41 am CT
Posted by: Susan
Then I am old fashioned, too. There's nothing like the good dept store experience- I am even thinking of the one that was still alive in our small town 20 years ago, a small but interesting relic from the 30s whose demise, oddly enough, coincided with the appearance of a huge mall 60 miles from here, the nearest one of that grandeur (Macy's now being its anchor). A mall is a deconstructed, discombobulated dept store with missing teeth here and there. At a mall there is no consistency or great sense of identity except for whatever DEPARTMENT store serves as its anchor.
Date: Monday, September 28, 2009 11:41 am CT
Posted by: S.B.
Imagine... if there are changes in the management at Macy's Inc. I wonder if dozens of trademarks that were acquired throughout the years will be freed. Think about it... will the Magnin family finally get to bring I. Magnin back to San Francisco? Will someone recognize the value of Filene's and reinstate it historic Boston? And of course someone will take the trademark of the ultimate department store Marshall Field's, and finally bring it back to it's right home on State Street.
The possibilities are endless.
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009 2:04 pm CT
Posted by: gle
Messy's on State has their Christmas/holiday department up already. I went there on a Saturday and didn't see ANYONE, not even a sales associate, at first. The decor obviously has a lot of red, with some rather sickly avacado green, and an abundance of garish plumes. It made me think more of a bordello than anything religious. A sales associate eventually emerged and pounced on me (another living person). Then another "customer" showed up and she pounced on her.
Frango mint boxes on the 7th floor all seem to have the manufactured by Macy's in New York labeling. A few had the Gertrude Hawk label. Cupid Candies in Chicago apparently isn't getting any visible credit.
There were more empty tables than those with customers in the Walnut Room at about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon. The Frango Cafe only had a couple of customers--I thought it was closed at first.
I asked the customer service person by the 7th floor archives if the store was having anything to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Daniel H. Burnham's "Plan of Chicago," since the State Street store IS a lovely Burnham building. He said there was nothing he knew of and that it was a shame. (Customer service on the 1st floor told me the same thing about a month ago.) The 7th floor desk does have copies of the One Book One Chicago selection about Burnham. That's it.
While there was some walk-through traffic on the first floor, the upper floors seemed so empty it was almost scary to be there. Messy's might blame the economy for lack of sales, but even people who don't have money go through a store to look and feel a little better by being there. I can't remember Field's or any other store having so few people in the building on a Saturday afternoon. It seems clear that shoppers just plain aren't interested in being inside Messy's.
And people outside Messy's keep responding to my button with--it's just not the same as Field's!
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009 1:05 am CT
Posted by: David P.
At a backyard bbq party last night the conversation turned to the loss of Marshall Field's on State (I DIDN'T initiate it). I was fascinated to listen to three life-long Chicagoans and one transplated New Yorker bemoan Macy's and tell of their personal boycotts. None knew of this website or the protests.
My favorite was the Brooklyn-born transplant who said: "I grew up with Macy's, but I could actually shop at Marshall Field's. I went in there to buy pants, shirts...that stuff you need for work and there was all this stuff that I had no idea what it was. All these made-up brand names that had no appeal. And the help didn't know anything about what they were selling. I never went back. That was two years ago."
These stories simply don't end.
Cheers to the return of Field's!
-David P.
PS: Repetitive State Street windows that feature a photograph of a model and a prop bottle of Michael Kors perfume? Gimme a break. No wonder people prefer to shop on the Internet.
Date: Friday, September 25, 2009 3:58 pm CT
Posted by: Judy Marth
I guess I'm just old fashioned, but I'm one of the dwindling few who actually DO want to shop in a department store! I can't buys shoes off the internet, and I'd really like to see and feel the material of clothing before I spend the money (and possibly have to send it back). Call me crazy, but I'd certainly be shopping on State street again if Marshall Field's was there!
Date: Friday, September 25, 2009 12:06 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Writer argues for broadsweeping changes at Macy's in order for it to avoid bankruptchy. One step, he argues, is to bring back Marshall Field's and Hudson's. This, like the other articles this week, is based on the study saying that Macy's is a bankruptcy candidate.http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2209279/analysis_steps_to_avoid_a_macys_bankruptcy.html?cat=3
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009 1:59 pm CT
Posted by: drew
Great analysis of Kohl's strong performance in a difficult economy:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2009/Kohls-Strong-Among-Weak-Retailers-KSS-M-JCP-SHLD-JWN0924.aspx?partner=YahooSA
Kohl's has connected with customers and has established its identity in the marketplace. While Kohl's has adapted to the economic realities and has responded to consumer needs and wants, our friends at the Red Star have opted "to stay the course" and continue business as usual.
Although sales are down month after month and customers have moved on, "those wacky folks at macy*s" somehow believe that shoppers will return when the economy improves and stubbornly refuse to change their strategy. Didn't someone define "insanity" as doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results each time?
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009 10:07 am CT
Posted by: N T
It is common knowledge that Macy's and Field's were rivals. It is a slap in our face and tradition.
I hope an investor will come forth and take back the Chicagoland stores and bring the Marshall Field's tradition, quality and business ethics back.
I will come back to Field's with a heartbeat....
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 8:47 pm CT
Posted by: drew
Given all the media coverage about the Red Star's possible bankruptcy, I find it unbelievable the Board of Directors and shareholders remain silent. As stock prices plummet and sales continue to fall, Mr Lunkhead evidently retains full support of the Board. Do directors and shareholders not visit the stores and see firsthand how macy*fication has failed to connect with shoppers everywhere?
President, CEO, Chairman Terry has backpedaled from his original plan of coast-to-coast clones as he promotes his latest innovation of "localization." Evidently he hasn't noticed JC Penney and Kohl's have captured the mid level shopper, while Saks, Lord & Taylor, Von Maur and others have attracted the upper level customers. The Red Star is competing for discount shoppers who look only for the lowest possible price and has earned the well-deserved reputation as "an overpriced Kmart."
Mr Lunkhead should be held accountable for the millions of dollars in lost "goodwill" and be required to supply actual sales and profit figures, not figures "adjusted" for consolidation, reorganization, and whatever other alleged costs he can conjecture. Perhaps bankruptcy might be the best option--Lunkhead and his disengaged board can be ousted and a team of merchants can be employed. A new team might rebrand the stores and "give the lady/gentleman what she/he wants."
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 8:22 pm CT
Posted by: drew
Another article discussing the study that predicts that macy*mart is heading toward bankruptcy:
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10601873/1/are-rite-aid-macys-bankruptcy-bound.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
Mr Lunkhead has cut services, product lines and staff in an effort to improve the bottom line. His stores offer neither quality or value; there is nothing unique or special to attract customers. I don't think very many consumers would miss macy*mart.
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 4:43 pm CT
Posted by: Susan
must say- this size 11 thing. It never occurred to me (when I lived in the area) to go shopping at Field's anywhere, especially State Street, for size 11 shoes. I am sure it mattered to some of Field's shoppers, and it is a Good Thing. In the day, it was there for them in the great MF way, no fuss. But how ludicrous is it to anticipate a shopping population swarming to 111 State to buy size 11s now that the word is out? Or should I say Lundicrous? Q-tips? Wipes? Flamingos? Perhaps "thinking micro" is a management stratagem that will have to go into the next generation of marketing textbooks. I believe 3rd graders could do a lot better. Maybe they ought to get a few in to advise.
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:21 pm CT
Posted by: Jeff W.
The bleak prospect for Macy's Inc. as stated by Yahoo.com is hardly a surprise to anyone who knows that local department stores who catered to their communities, always did better than national chains on a local basis. Had Macy's (Lundgren) been willing to retain the monikers of Field's, Kaufman's, Filene's, Famous Barr, May Company, and a host of other local store brands, they probably would not be in the really bad financial shape that they are in. Lest anyone think that bankruptcy for Macy's is not possible, one need only look back a year to the example of Lehman Brothers who was lead into default by Dick Fuld, who by the way still got a golden parachute of $500 million when the stockholders lost their investments. I am sure that Terry Lundgren has a well defined golden parachute too.
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 5:41 pm CT
Posted by: gle
I agree with comments on this blog about the Yahoo.com article. If I want ordinary "stuff" I can go to a neighborhood Walgreen's or CVS, or anyplace easier than trekking to State Street. Messy's does not have anything unique, as Marshall Field's did. Over the weekend I wore my "I Wany My Marshall Field's" button to a neighborhood historic homes tour, and couldn't believe the number of people who said the same thing--Messy's doesn't have anything special, it is NOT the same as Field's, I don't even bother to go there anymore, etc. In 3 years of occupying Field's, you'd think Messy's would learn. The public sure has!
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 2:30 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who posted or otherwise emailed about the front page story on Yahoo.com about the study of possible bankruptcy candidates.
YES! I would have missed it had it not been for YOU! Also, the many posts about the topic demonstrate the interest. Don't ever be shy about making a post because you think it might have already been covered. Your posting is a big help and an important indicator.
I think I speak for many when I say emphatically that I don't want Macy's to go bankrupt: I just want them to start using good business sense and truly genuine responsiveness to what customers overwhelmingly want--Marshall Field's!
When business decisions are driven by ego and delusion, those responsible need to suffer the consequences of their bad decisions. As customers, why would we give our money to companies who choose not to give us the Marshall Field's type goods and services that we want? Why should I give my business to a store that insists that I am wrong for not liking what they offer in terms of shopping experience? I much prefer the Marshall Field's shopping experience to the Macy's shopping experience. Why would I give my money to something I don't like?
The story as posted on Yahoo! asks who shops department stores anymore. I don't think people shop department stores that offer little, if anything, more than a discount or on-line retailer offers; however, people will shop a department store that is special, offering great goods and service and a very unique experience. Harrod's, KaDaWe, Bon Marche, Selfridges, and some others offer that and people are willing to fly to another continent for that. And it's what Marshall Field's offered. People want to shop Marshall Field's. People from all over the world.
Ultimately, if Macy'goes bankrupt, it is because they didn't give the lady (and the gentleman) what they want.
Our hope is for someone who is intelligent enough to recognize that will enter the scene and bring back Marshall Field's as it should be. [Addendum]
Keep in mind that if there were to be a bankruptcy, new owners or new management, it sets the stage for possible change, but it also can mean the need for stepped up efforts on our part (sudden, last-minute rallies, for example) to impress on some new figure how bringing back Field's to State Street is the highest and best use.
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 2:15 pm CT
Posted by: A Earl
We all knew that this was coming and here is some validation:
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:48 am CT
Posted by: JimmyD
Hot off the press! According to the Business Insider (9/18/2009), Macy's is ranked 4 on a list of companies that have a high potential for bankrupty...http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/336235/Ten-Big-Companies-That-Are-Veering-Toward-Bankruptcy?tickers=AMD,LVS,S,M,GT,MYL,HTZ
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:29 am CT
Posted by: Gail
Macy's is included in "Ten Big Companies that are Veering Toward Bankruptcy."
Gail
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:28 am CT
Posted by: Alan
Macy's is definitely getting the benefit of the doubt since it is one o the "survivors" of the recession. However, something to keep in mind is that the "My Macy's" initiative itself was a major backtrack on Lundgren's part. Their first strategy was a complete national strategy, eliminating localization. The next logical step once "My Macy's" runs out of steam (which is inevitable) is re-branding. I still maintain it is unlikely as long as Lundgren is CEO (as it would be a complete repudiation of a strategy he had publicly associated himself with), but the seed has been planted for a future CEO to take that step.
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 7:42 am CT
Posted by: Judy
in case you didn't see this, check out #4!! Ten Big Companies That Are Veering Toward Bankruptcy: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/336235/Ten-Big-Companies-That-Are-Veering-Toward-Bankruptcy?tickers=AMD,LVS,S,M,GT,MYL,HTZ
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 7:36 am CT
Posted by: Amazed
Yahoo has main page item about Macy's being on Audit Integrity's list of names that "have the highest probability of declaring bankruptcy among publicly traded firms."
Date: Monday, September 21, 2009 4:49 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
The Business Courier of Cincinnati has a brief blurb about My Macy's. Mr. Lundgren uses the addition of size 11 ladies shoes as a success of "My Macy's" in Chicago.
You are required to login to comment--but please do so. A copy of my response follows the article which is at:
http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2009/09/my_macys_learns_to_walk_in_chicagos_shoes.html?surround=lfn#tp_newCommentAnchorMy comment was:This past spring, FieldsFansChicago.org completed a survey of 522 shoppers on Chicago's Michigan Ave and State St. Conducted three years after Marshall Field's was converted to Macy's and after Macy's started implementing "My Macy's" in Chicago, 78% of participants said that they still preferred Marshall Field's; 73% said they shopped the Chicago-area former Field's stores less since they became Macy's; and 78% said that they would shop those store more if they were converted back to Marshall Field's. (MOE = +/- 4.23%, CI = 95%) Just over a week ago, on September 13, 2009, there was another protest rally for the return of Marshall Field's to Chicago's State Street. Macy's is not succeeding despite the addition of size 11 ladies shoes. Chicago overwhelmingly still wants Marshall Field's--not Macy's. See http://FieldsFansChicago.org
Date: Monday, September 21, 2009 3:27 am CT
Posted by: mike weber
As a native-born Chicgoan (my great-grandfather owned a saloon in Cicero) and a resident of Atlanta since 1972, i am not sure whether i am more incensed over the loss of the Marshall Fields or the Rich's names.
In Atlanta, it's worse than in Chicago in some ways, because they bought up Atlanta's other Main Store, Davison's, and changed its name to Macy's ... and then they merged it with Rich's and slapped the Macy's name on the resulting chimera.
I don't shop at Macy's.
I used to.
But not any more.
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2009 7:59 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Target is selling FieldGear again. Only this time, it's FieldGear garden tools--rakes, garden shovels and spades, etc.
Back maybe two or three years ago, Macy's had a FieldGear-branded item for one of its Black Friday doorbusters; I think it was a camping radio or something, not the every-day casual wear and home goods we Field's loyalists associate with Field's under the helm of Dayton-Hudson/Target. I haven't seen FieldGear clothing or sheets at Macy's but maybe I missed it.
I couldn't find on the label as to who makes or imports the FieldGear rakes, shovels, etc. It only said that they were made in China. Rather than carrying FieldGear at Target, it could be that some company just makes things under the FieldGear brand for both Macy's and Target and whomever else wants to sell the items. Maybe it's coincidence that these FieldGear items are carried by Marshall Field's former parent company.
Target also carries Fieldcrest linens. Fieldcrest was Marshall Field's brand for many years, but it was spun off from Marshall Field's decades ago.
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2009 8:47 am CT
Posted by: Lili Michigan
Hello,
I was hoping to find a Marshall Fields site and stumbled on this one. I wasn't aware being new to this area of the midwest that it no longer exists. I was...a Hudson's shopper too, so I understand. I agree that the Macy's quality is not comparable to Mashall fields. I thought Hudson's and Marshall Fields had a good "quality-price and variety" ratio compared to other lower or higher chains, of the same or other brands.
I try as hard as I can not to shop at Macy's although...it unfortunately happens once in a very great while, mostly because certain items are only carried by Macy's and where I live the other stores are not up to par either. I would love for Marhall Fields to come back and I hope you will succeed in this endeavor.
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:23 pm CT
Posted by: Jeff S.
oWell, well. A sign of the times for our beloved Marshall Fied's turned Macy*s--the Christmas Trim shop up on 6 (where the 28 Shop was located before moving down to 3)is DOWNSIZED this year. The "back room" of the department, seperated by moveable mirrored panels, is not going to be "open" this year! Same old Marshall Field clock ornaments as last few years. Bet they're the best sellers in that whole department!
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:04 am CT
Posted by: S.B.
Nice article on the history of Marshall Field's the man and Marshall Field's the store.
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2009/09/18/features/doc4ab3ab19b765b631546895.txt
Date: Friday, September 18, 2009 4:39 pm CT
Posted by: drew
ANOTHER report that the Red Star is "veering toward bankruptcy":http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/336235/10-Big-Companies-That-Are-Veering-Toward-BankruptcyEven when the economy improves, how many consumers will "actually WANT to shop at macy*s"? Marshall Field's, on the other hand, was a unique destination that people around the world came to and shopped at.
Date: Friday, September 18, 2009 10:15 am CT
Posted by: S White
I wish you all the best with your campaign (from London, England). I have not yet visited Chicago but look forward to doing so and seeing the Walnut Room! The same thing happened to a store in Manchester, UK. Kendal Milne, established in 1832 (making it the oldest department store in Europe!)was bought by Harrods in 1909. They wanted to change the name to Harrods, Manchester. Today am sure a lot of stores would love to use the Harrods name but people in Manchester were proud of their store and voiced their protest. Harrods gave in and the store traded as Kandal Milns & Co. (Harrods Ltd) until the 1970s when House of Fraser Group bought Harrods and its other stores. The store has been known as Kendal Milne or Kendal's for 170 years. Unfortunately a few years ago House of Fraser refurbished the store and its now changed name to "House of Fraser". Great shame...
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/147/147875_kendals_shoppers_slam_name_change.html
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:43 pm CT
Posted by: Matthew L
Very interested in supporting Marshall Field's cause. We need them back!
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:26 pm CT
Posted by: drew
CNBC analyst predicts the Red Star might be among firms soon filing for bankruptcy. Interesting how Mr Lunkhead's various "magic" accounting schemes may soon be destroyed by harsh economic reality:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1259093533&__source=yahoo|headline|quote|video|&par=yahoo
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009 5:41 pm CT
Posted by: gle
Messy's is promoting its fall makeover tour in eight cities across the U.S. This is a contest women can enter to be reinvented with the help of a style expert. The tour will be on State Street October 10.
An official press release can be found on the macysinc.com website:
"Macy's and Clinton Kelly MAKEOVER AMERICA - Fall Season!"
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1333000&highlight=
Nothing personal against Clinton Kelly, I don't even know him. But don't we wish Messy's would just make itself over--and sell the store to someone with the ability to make it back into Marshall Field's.
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:54 am CT
Posted by: David M
Hi!
I just looked through the site and wanted to thank you for the good work you're all doing. I didn't realise there was a recent yearly protest. I used to work for Field's back in the mid 90s in Houston as an assistant department manager until they sold the stores to Sak's. Field's has always had a place in my heart and I'm still lucky to be friends with many associates. When I moved to Chicago 9 years ago it was special to walk into State Street. Unfortunately it's not the same.
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:34 pm CT
Posted by: Chris
I saw the protest on Sunday and was given a flyer. We don't shop Macy's at all even though it is less convenient to shop elsewhere.
Macy's sells the same things I can get elsewhere for less. Field's was special.
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:38 pm CT
Posted by: Kurt G
In this week's (Sept.14) "The New Yorker", Patricia Marx, in her article "Chicago Style", writes that a Chicago matron now walks through what was once Marshall Field's "only as a shortcut to duck the rain" and that "all of us are ticked off that they (Macy's) took over". With about 850 insipid department stores spread across the country, does anybody at Macy's understand the word exclusivity? Or the concept of "hometown pride"?
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 5:44 pm CT
Posted by: gle
It was GREAT to see so many Field's Fans out at the rally on State Street September 13! I think we made a statement that Chicago doesn't allow itself to be kicked around, and that Chicago still prefers Marshall Field's to Macy's and that's the way it is.
Field's comments have started again on a "Tribune" blog following an article about stores attempting to cater to personal tastes of the shopper:
"Retailers try to get personal with shoppers" September 13, 2009 by Booth Moore
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/style/la-ig-retail13-2009sep13,0,215095.story
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 12:46 pm CT
Posted by: C. Otnes
Hi -- when's the next rally, please?
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 2:35 am CT
Posted by: Ming-Yao C.
I'm wondering when will be the next possible rally? I am interested in attending.
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 10:30 pm CT
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks again to everyone for yesterday!
If go to this site's main homepage, you will find several photos from yesterday added to photo scroll. A special "thank you" to "gle" for the photos!
Many regards,
Jim
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 9:50 pm CT
Posted by: Kurt Gerhardt
In today's(9/14/2009)Crain's Chicago Business (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?articleId=32361) I commented on the ongoing saga of Block 37. "Had the Marshall Field's Buildings (Store) been sensitively restored and developed into a premium shopping experience instead of the pigsties they've been allowed to become, there would have already been great development on Block 37. Anyone who has been through the former Emporium store on San Francisco's Market Street knows that it can be done. Retailers from L.L. Bean and J. Crew to Hermes and Christofle would want to have a location in a revitalised "Field's Center" on State Street. Restoring the Walnut Room (featuring a few of the former favorites) and the restaurant floor with dining and take home options would be a magnet. Next-day free shipping from UPS would ensure that office workers and tourists alike wouldn't be burdened with parcels. The sheer pleasure of moving through the great, irreplaceable architecture of the Marshall Field Buildings would create an experience that would make State Street a travel destination once again." And, due to investments now being made by the Federal Government, high-speed rail will be available from Union Station within a few years, thus, it makes it an undeniably attractive tourist destination and retail center for Chicagoans.
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 7:52 pm CT
Posted by: Zelda
Isn't it great that after 3 years, we still get cabs, buses and cars honking whenever we have a rally for Marshall Field's? It's so clear that those of us who march with signs represent the vast majority of Chicagoans, who support our cause. The spirit is alive and well, and our cause endures. And did you notice the sign across the street about Bigsby and Kruthers returning? Great stores can come back, especially when there's a whole big market that is being ignored.
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 7:03 pm CT
Posted by: Gregg Taylor
The most relevant sentence in the Sept. 14 New Yorker article for fieldsfanschicago readers is the following sentence:
"'All of us are ticked off that they [Macy's] took over,' said a Chicago matron who will now walk through the place only as a shortcut to duck the rain."
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 5:33 pm CT
Posted by: Catherine
I really appreciate your continuing efforts to bring Marshall Field's back to Chicago and especially State Street...where I have so many fond memories of the store...the clock...the Christmas windows...the Walnut Room...beautiful decorations and particularly a special feeling that Marshall Field's is indeed Chicago.
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 4:32 pm CT
Posted by: Z/M, G, J
There is a photo of yesterday's rally in today's Chicago Tribune on page 8 of section 1.
[ Update: the photo is only in the home-delivered broadsheet format edition and not in the news stand, tabloid edition. ]
The image can also be viewed online -- be sure to add comments afterwards.
http://www.ch icagotribune.com/features/chi-pod-pix,0,6615505.photogallery?index=chi-pod13fields20090914063756Everyone looks great!
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 12:44 pm CT
Posted by: Rich Wilson
It was great seeing everyone at the rally yesterday! It was also nice that we picked up a few more people right outside of M*cy's ti join our line. What I found to be funnier though was that we actually did not block many people from going into the M store--because there were hardly ANY customer s who wanted to go in! The store must have been a ghost town. For a few moments, I thought the blonde security woman who was standing outside and o bserving us was going to pick up a sign and join in!
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 8:46 am CT
Posted by: Sue
I think the entire city would prefer Field's over Macy's.......
Store is no comparison - Water Tower or State Street,
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 8:07 am CT
...but deep in the woods of Southern Indiana.
I don't shop Macy's here either, which, besides Sears, is Bloomington's only department store.
Glad to hear that you had a good crowd.
I, for one, would renew my charge account with Field's if it were under new ownership.
Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 7:13 am CT
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009 9:34 pm CT
Listen on your radio or via streaming audio at http://www.wdcb.org/ .
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:50 pm CT
Let us remember longtime Chicago Tribune columnist, Ellen Warren's column which generated more comments than any of her columns over the years:
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/shopping_ellen_warren/2007/05/what_a_shocker_.html#comments
"What a Shocker! Shoppers say 'Macy' is a four-letter word."
What was said in May 2007 is even more true today, September 13, 2009!
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:41 pm CT
I heard a news story on WBBM-Newsradio 780 this afternoon that was a report from our rally. You could hear the rally participants chanting in the background as Jim McKay was interviewed. Jim was excellent, as usual, and the rally sounded terrific!
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009 4:40 pm CT
I hope that soon we will prevale and Macy's will again beoome Marshall Field's. If it does, I will shop there whenever I am in town.
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009 12:15 pm CT
Yesterday I was shopping at a Salvation Army thrift store in suburban Pittsburgh. As I browsed the shelves, I noticed a box with the distinctive Marshall Field's script. The box was marked "LANDMARK a set of 3 jiggers" and contained shot glasses with a picture of the Great Clock in Field's distinctive green. Needless to say, these glasses are now part of my collection.
Any info on when these glasses were sold would be appreciated.
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009 6:49 am CT
I hope today's event is a success such that even indifferent onlookers have to admit the issue is not just a passing interest.
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2009 4:34 pm CT Date: Saturday, September 5, 2009 3:23 pm CT
She talked about how she missed Field's and it was easy for her to boycott Macy's because she didn't like what they sold.
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2009 1:23 pm CT Date: Friday, September 11, 2009 10:56 pm CT
The question that I have always tried to figure out:
Why would anyone make fun of and berate a tremendously large group of people as Field's Fans, wanting to being back such a distinctive cultural, historical business which is an iconic, internationally-known and respected retail emporium of a department store?? Marshall Field stores had class, sophistication, merchandising beyond all imagination and true, true service. All that is gone now.
The only conclusion I have: They have connections with macy's in some way, and realize their paychecks depend upon macy's surviving. It's so obvious. For sure they didn't expect you to be so increasingly strong still after three years!
The average citizen would respond: Hey, bringing back Marshall Field's! Sounds fine with me. If I'm not going to be out there with them, I'm certainly not going to stand in their way.
At any time you read or hear of someone writing against your efforts, chances are they are paid macy employees or macy family members who have as much grace as a "bull in a china shop". (By the way, do you suppose that's why macy's has eliminated so many china departments of Field's stores?)
Date: Friday, September 11, 2009 8:23 pm CT
We'll be out on State Street again tomorrow afternoon. If you would like to help, look for us from at least 1:30 to 3:30 pm and hours beyond that. If you would like to help, please email info@FieldsFansChicago.org or call 312-662-8980.
Here's to meeting you Sunday at 1:00 pm under the clock.
Date: Friday, September 11, 2009 6:39 pm CT
Please be sure to leave comments--it's very important that you do.
Date: Friday, September 11, 2009 6:39 pm CT
Last night I was driving home from work, and listening to the radio. I don't know if what I heard was intentional or accidental in timing, but it was priceless!
I first heard a nice, funny ad for Kohl's. They began by promoting a huge four-day sale. Then a new announcer came on, and identified himself as "the guy that reads all the exclusions for *other* store's sales." He said "you know, like 'this sale excludes women's wear, men's wear, children's wear, bedding, electronics, and anything else that you might possibly want or need'." He goes on to say that the Kohl's sale doesn't exclude anything, so he has nothing really to say. It was cute, and came across as a direct attack on Macy's.
The VERY NEXT COMMERCIAL, immediately following, was an ad for Macy's newest most spectacular three-day-long One Day sale, the only one of the season even though they've done four of these in the last month....you get the picture. After the hype, a new announcer that did indeed sound like the guy from the Kohl's commercial came on and said something like "exclusions apply, see store for details, sale prices only valid for XXX days, yadda yadda yadda."
It was so perfect! Macy's continues to be their own worst enemy.
See you Sunday under the clock!
gayle
Date: Friday, September 11, 2009 12:47 pm CT Date: Friday, September 11, 2009 7:17 am CT Date: Friday, September 11, 2009 6:34 am CT
It is also on line at
Field's fans can also send letters to the editor at the "Tribune" at ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com.
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:34 pm CT Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009 7:37 pm CT
Rich
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009 5:38 pm CT
I've gotten some comments about "Macy's hasn't changed it back, so I guess we're stuck with them" (often followed by a sigh). I've also handed out quite a few buttons to people who say they still want their Marshall Field's, whether Messy's is still there or not.
Who says we're stuck with Messy's! Just because it's sitting there, neglecting a building and pushing junk most people say they don't like? I think Messy's is stuck with customers outside the store instead of inside because they have shown they don't care about what is important to Chicago such as Marshall Field's, Daniel H. Burnham and people who live, work and visit in Chicago.
On September 13 we will continue state by our presence outside the store that Chicago refuses to be stuck with Messy's. Even after 3 years, Chicago still prefers its Marshall Field's.
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:20 am CT Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 12:50 pm CT
As Al put it, the writer really captures the ethos of the emporium.
If you don't subscribe, be sure to pick up a copy of the September 14, 2009 edition of the New Yorker.
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11:54 am CT Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11:52 am CT
Check out the article and THE COMMENTS and, if you are like-minded, be sure to click "recommend" after the comment.
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 10:25 am CT
See you all at the rally!
Judy
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 8:41 am CT
Thank you "gle", Joe and Jim for your continual, hard-working support for Marshall Field's. Your ambitious and successful volunteer efforts at the entrance to the OPRAH anniversary television show at Ohio and N. Michigan Avenue was so gallant and superb. On behalf of all Field's Fans everywhere, THANK YOU! A true class act in the fine traditions of Marshall Field & Company.
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 10:36 pm CT
Even in NYC, the smart people know Macy's replacing Marshall Field's was a huge loss!
There is a free abstract of the same article at
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9:23 pm CT
1,000 "I Want My Marshall Field's" and 1,000 special leaflets promoting our rally for this Sunday were snapped up in just 20 minutes.
It's great to know that there were 1,000 people with buttons in support of Field's in the Oprah audience.
Thanks again to Joe and "g" for their efforts.
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 8:32 pm CT Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 3:45 pm CT Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 11:12 am CT
Another thing I miss is the idea that you were buying from a very special and unique store.
But most of all, I miss how they would suggest merchandise that was truly great without ever being high pressure. It always worked like a charm.
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9:18 am CT Date: Monday September 7, 2009 8:32 pm CT
We plan to come to the rally on State this Sunday.
Date: Monday September 7, 2009 6:34 pm CT
Messy's is no match!
Date: Monday, September 7, 2009 5:23pm CT
If you can help, please email info@fieldsfanschicago.org or calling (312) 662.8980.
In respect and admiration for all you do to bring back Marshall Field's.
Date: Monday, September 7, 2009 12:59 pm CT
Go to
Date: Monday, September 7, 2009 1:34 am CT
What is the largest department store?
The world's largest department store is Shinsegae Centum City in Busan, South Korea, with the floor size of 293,905 sq. m, 95,405 sq. m larger than Macy's in New York City.
The largest department store (in the U.S.) is Macy's in New York City.
Some argue that the former Marshall Field's flagship store on State St. in Chicago (now Macy's) is even larger than the Macy's store in NYC in total square footage. The Chicago store is so large that there is a percentage of the building not being utilized and sits empty and blocked off from the rest of the store.
I've been saying that for years, long before the Federated/Macy's debacle of 2006.
Keep up the great work!
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009 5:23 pm CT
You can view a Adobe Acrobat PDF file
The specific instructions for printing can be found at our leaflets page.
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2009 8:34 pm CT
Macy' and Field's are not the same. It was more than a name change.
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2009 7:23 pm CT Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 9:55 pm CT
Did you notice that the clock in the Macy's video is set at two different times? My other favorite was the archive featuring Macy's history in Chicago!
mds
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 9:38 pm CT
We haven't bought anything from macy's since the hostile takeover either. Just because we haven't been posting, doesn't mean we are aren't serious about bringing Marshall Field's back. We read your website regularly and agree with everything being said. Everything is so well-written and stated, we can't think of anything to add.
We are telling others where we work to keep boycotting macy's and bloomingdale's too. Good Luck at the rally. Chicago needs a distinctive department store to call its own.
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 6:49 pm CT
If each of you could bring along one person---maybe even two--- Field's Fans, that would help our effort, and help them participate as well.
Please ask your friends to come along with you and show our strength. Thank you.
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 5:13 pm CT
Mr. Jim Cramer of CNBC is offering viewers and readers the chance to vote on his group of Worst CEOs of 2009.
Remember: Include specific reasons in your narrative to support your nomination. Do not merely list a name. Make your nomination meaningful by telling "why".
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 1:47 pm CT
She seems to be supporting Mr. Lundgren as a loyal support office employee would do in keeping his or her job. In the true Marshall Field's tradition, I was professional and polite in discussing the Marshall Field's demise and why macy's does not measure up. I could tell by the pauses and sighs, that my call must have been among the hundreds received. I distinctively got the impression that Terry Lundgren's front office did not expect the resistance to be going on stronter for three years after the take-over. In fact, if I were able to read the "body language" through the phone, I could almost read: "Oh, no! Another Field's call.") Our boycott is working mooe and more with time, and our group/individual involvement is keeping the issue in the forefront, Field's Fans!
It is important that Field's fans and supporters of all regional department stores that were macy-ified, to let your views be known at macy's corporate front office.
Once again, the number to macy's corporate executive office is:
800-264-0069 Ext 2425.
You may speak with a human being if you call between 8-4 Eastern Time. Once again, please be as respectful as possible in getting your points across.
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 10:55 am CT
I am preparing a slide-show lecture on the history of this great department store and am in search of great stories and photographs about this grand old department store.
Remember shopping for toys on the 4th floor? Eating lunch in the Walnut Room? Please pass along your stories! Have great family photos of visiting Santa or wearing favorite FieldC-s fashions? IC-d love to see them.
Stories and photographs can be sent to me at l-goddard@att.net. Photos must be attached to your email. Please include a little background information about you and the photograph. I recommend TIFs or JPEGs , no less that 400 x 400 in size, 72dpi.
By sending your photograph to me, you are giving me permission to use it in a slide-show lecture about the history of Marshall Field and Co.
Thanks for your help in saving memories of this much-beloved store!
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009 9:41 am CT
The Bon Ton stores offers this program:
http://www.bonton.com/category/our+community/community+day.do
The Red Star offers this event:
http://www.smartmoney.com/Spending/Deals/Christmas-in-September-Sizing-Up-the-Early-Deals/?afl=yahoo
How generous of the Red Star to give $10 of a $25 donation to Thanks for Sharing charities. What happens to the extra $15?
In contrast, The Bon Ton offers the coupon books FREE to charities which keep the ENTIRE amount for each book sold! In other words, if a charity sells 100 Community Days coupon books for $5, they keep the entire $500! BTW The Bon Ton's coupons are quite good with very few limitations.
These are difficult economic economic times and charities are hurting. Donations are down and worthy causes are suffering. How disgusting, sickening and appalling that Red Star would take a $25 donation and give ONLY $10 to charity! Is the other $15 a "processing fee" or does Mr Lunkhead use this money to shore up his bottom line. What Mr Lunkhead should tell his gullible customers is "Thanks for Sharing...your donation with US." The Red Star is offensive in so many ways and continues to distinguish itself as a no-class dump!
The Bon Ton absorbs the cost of producing their coupon books and ALL the money goes totally to the charities. Tell your friends, family and neighbors--support deserving local charity by purchasing Community Day coupon books at The Bon Ton, Elder-Beerman, Carson's--better department stores which offer name brand merchandise at fair prices!
Please note that views opposing this, or any of our posts, are welcome, including those correcting facts, provided sources are indicated. The right to decline a post is reserved; those with valid email responses will receive an email response.
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009 5:42 pm CT
I look forward to Field's Fans rally on September 13 at 1:00 p.m. and hope we can get as many people as possible out at State and Washington (under the clock) so Messy's, the media and the world can SEE that Chicago still prefers Marshall Field's, NOT Messy's.
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009 7:58 am CT
No doubt Red Star executives will blame a later Labor Day for dismal sales. By making extensive cutbacks in merchandise offerings, services and staffing, Mr Lunkhead and Company have been able to stay afloat; how much longer can Red Star continue to play this losing game. Sales are down, shoppers are gone and are not coming back. Mr Lunkhead arrogantly and foolishly gambled with regional department store nameplates, supply lines, and employees' lives--and he LOST big time!
Perhaps bankruptcy will enable a new board of directors and management team to "give the lady (and gentleman) what she(he) wants."
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009 12:16 am CT
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 6:13 pm CT
Sorry, I don't love to use vulgar profanities, but this came to me about 2 months ago: macyf**cation. That about sums up what macy's has done to dozens of regional favorites across our nation. The CEO and perked board members of this disgusting corporation are certainly very good at bringout out the fury in people.
I think our nation is long overdue for a return to EXCELLENCE. Marshall Field's led the way, and so we are long overdue for the return of Marshall Field's.
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 12:16 am CT
The loss to Chicagoans remains enormous. I see the red star bags dotted about the city and sometimes ask folks on the bus en route home from work "How is that place? I've not shopped there since the change from Marshall Field's." I am ALWAYS greeted with the same response: "It's not the same, but it's what we've got".
Indeed, which is why I don't go there.
I shudder at the thought that I originally lived in Chicago back in 1982 for 15 months before moving to NYC for 10 years. In 1982 the current North Michigan Avenue "Best Buy" was a "Bonwit Teller", the "Border's Books" at Pearson & Michigan was "I. Magnin" and the "Victoria Secret" was a low-rise 1920s building housing "Margie Korshack's", a designer boutique which I think I misspelled. Anyhow, it was a different world.
Macy's (then R.H. Macy's) in NYC was mediocre the entire time I lived there and under Federated became more of a dump with the same sort of filth and H & M type merchandise at higher prices-and poor service now featured on State Street.
Will it change? I pray so, but don't know. Will I be at the September 13th rally? To quote that insufferable Sarah Palin: "You betcha!".
-David
Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 2:42 pm CT Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 7:08 am CT
As other people have stated: "Marshall Field's was so much more than just a store"!
P.S. "Violet" (in a recent post) speaks for so many of us. You said it so very well, Violet.
Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 5:39 am CT
Seems like there oughta be a law against pillaging a national treasure. Yes, national, not just Chicago. Grant Park is wonderful, but it is not Central Park (we all know where that is). The Art Institute is wonderful but it is not the Met (we all know where that is). Macy's is boring and it certainly is not Marshall Field (we all know where that IS-not where the other two are).
You have to wonder how the leadership can trot thru MF physically or mentally and not feel sick in the heart for what they have done, however deeply they repress it. Perhaps possession of the site is such a power trip for small minds, it short-circuits reason. It certainly looks like a case of biting off more than could be chewed.
Date: Monday, August 31, 2009 7:05 pm CT
I wandered into Carson's, and they were having a tremendous sale. I found a beautiful new purse on sale, and the friendly and helpful sales associate showed me a pretty wallet that would match, so I bought that too. As I walked past fine jewelry, the woman who had sold me a watch the week before recognized me and called out. I stopped to talk, and next thing I knew I had bought a small diamond necklace on sale. Next I passed through shoes. I didn't need any, but found a really cute pair. They weren't on sale, but what the heck.
By this time, my arms were getting tired, and I was looking around for hubby to help carry my haul. When I finally caught up with him, he was too laden with packages from the men's department to be much help: shoes, 3 shirts, and pants. While he lugged stuff to the car, I walked over to Von Maur, and they successfully charmed me out the rest of my cash. As we drove home, broke and tired, I realized that was honestly the first time I'd had fun shopping since Field's left.
Shopping at Field's was always a fun and special time, even for trivial daily purchases. Every penny we spent this weekend would, in the past, have been spent at Field's. I rarely if ever shopped at Carson's before, but now Carson's, L&T, Nordstrom, and VonMaur are taking the dollars I would have spent at Field's. In this rough economy, we are more careful what we spend, but I would surely make more discretionary purchases if Field's was restored in name and quality. Lundgren's loss, Carson's gain.
Date: Monday, August 31, 2009 12:15 am CT Date: Monday, August 31, 2009 11:31 am CT
I cannot believe how filthy the macy's State Street Store is. What an insult to the fine Marshall Field's name! I heard about the takeover while living in London.
I found out that the manager's name is Linda Piepho. She should be ashamed of herself. I invite you to call her office at 312.781-1000. Although she claims to be too busy to know what is happening in every part of the store, I do not understand how she could be too busy, since the store was practically empty of customers at noontime on Friday. So much of the filth is obvious to anyone. A manager is supposed to know what is going on.
I won't even get into the poor quality of merchandising and presentation now, since I was overwhelmed at the lack of good hygenic sanitation in the store.
Marshall Field's manager Dan Skoda, and even for that matter, Ralph Hughes kept every part of the store spotlessly clean, inside and out. The brass plaques are so tarnished. I remember when a gentleman got out there everyday to polish the plaques. He smiled and cheerfully greeted customers, while happily cleaning the plaques. Pride was everywhere even in the Target and May eras. It's so sad to see the neglect.
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009 11:28 am CT Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009 5:32 pm CT Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009 3:42 pm CT Date: Friday, August 28, 2009 4:01 pm CT Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009 5:34 pm CT
September 2007:
"Macy's has made merchandise improvements such as introducing an exclusive Martha Stewart product line and is ``more focused on delivering improved customer service than we ever have been,'' said Jennifer McNamara, a Macy's spokeswoman."
So wrong on soooooo any levels
-To me, the Stewart merchandise at Macy's is about the same as Stewart merchandise sold at Kmart. Only the box colors - and prices - are diferent.
-Customer service has all but disappeared from Macy's. Remember how they close most Customer service desks in the stores? Massive layoffs and poor scheduling have left entire departments with no sales associates. During a recent visit to a Macy's store, I noticed only ONE salesperson for housewares, candy, luggage, and children's clothing - that would be more than half of the lower level.
-As for merchandise inmprovement: Alfarni line is looking even more poorly made than ever (if that is possible). Plus stores are noticible lower in merchandise selection than ever before. Lots of empty shelves and racks. I'e noticed that Macy's has again tried to fill space by loading the sales floor with boxes of merchandise. I just don't think that stacks George Foreman grills in the hosuewares aisle shows merchandise improvement, or "merchandise improvements"
Jimmy Gimbels goes to Macy's so YOU don't have to. See you all at Lord and Taylor!
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 10:02 pm CT
Go to the Guinness World Records website to read more.
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 3:29 pm CT
And boy, was I right! I then made a quick detour through the men's department. I felt like I was in some sort of twenty-year time warp with all of the boring, basic, cheap, tired- and hideous-looking clothes. And the prices? Management must be on the pipe if they think anyone would pay Marshall Field prices for Kmart quality clothing. (In fact, I've purchased better clothes at Kmart that I saw at Macy's -- although I use to make most all of my purchases at Field's). I counted a total of about 6 shoppers in the store, and vitually no one carrying Macy's shopping bags in the store or mall. And this was about three o'clock in the afternoon at a major regional mall.
Contrast that experience with Carson's. Better merchadise at great sale prices. Of course I did all of my shopping at Carson's. Who wouldn't? And being in Chicago, we have a plethora of store choices to patronize. Macy's could go belly up tomorrow, and I bet no one would notice or care much as opposed to the demise of Field's and the attendant uproar.
Quality, service, selection, and price don't seem to be in Macy's playbook. Other retailers get it -- Macy's certainly doesn't. It'll be one for the textbooks (on how not to run a major retail chain -- kind of like how GM lost its customer base by offering boring, low-quality cars). Macy's (and Bloomingdale's) will never get any of my retail dollars.
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:33 pm CT
Why would any visitor to Chicago make a special effort to shop in a macy's in Chicago, when chances are they have one back home?? My amazement goes beyond Marshall Field's too. Why would any tourist in Florida make a special effort and get excited about seeing a macy's store in Miami, or any other regional department store that has been "macy-ified"??
It would be like making Kohl's, Sears, JCPenney, K-Mart or Target a "must-see" and "must-shop-at" while visiting Chicago! He is losing a tremendous potential number of people entering his stores by eliminating the local names which provided some kind of mystique to different cities, even if the merchandise was basically the same, except for some localization of merchandise. Things are tough enough in these harsh economic times without inadvertantly steering people away from your department stores and derailing the most in sales dollars. Every potential sales dollar in revenue should be sought in a good, well-managed business! Macy's does not seem to care, or is oblivious to good, logical business sense.
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:24 am CT
P.S. Perhaps the Chicago family which recently bought the Chicago Cubs could also buy Marshall Field's! Talk about TWO Chicago icons!
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 7:20 am CT
By the way, what is the brass plaque between the columns above Red Star's main entrance?
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 1:00 pm CT
Dianne writes:
Every bit helps send the message that Chicago-indeed the world--wants Marshall Field's to return. The less you spend at Macy's and Bloomingdale's, the more they get the message. Spend at other Chicago-friendly businesses instead.
As far as Macy's management team ever bringing back Marshall Field's, the answer is that the current CEO, President and Chairman, Terry Lundgren, will not bring back Marshall Field's. Instead, we expect that there will be new owners or management who will listen to customers. This is not new, but something we have been stating for sometime. We collectively believe that a business plan that includes discarding a major valuable asset--the Marshall Field's flagship on State Street used in conjunction with the internationally renowned brand "Marshall Field's"--is not only unsustainable, but outright folly, especially in this economy.
When you look at brands and retail operations that are successful in this economy, you see that they are offering "must-have" merchandise and experiences that people can't resist in this economy.
Apple iPhones, MacBooks and the Apple store customer experience collectively is one such example. Marshall Field's is very similar. Chicago wants it and has to have it, even in this economy. It was gone and Chicago would go nuts if it came back.
A stone carver may strike a stone for 1,000 times with no seeming result; but on the 1,001th time, the stone cracks. We believe the same at FieldsFansChicago.org. We who support the return of Marshall Field's in name and spirit of quality and service believe it is inevitable that it will come back as long as we continue to speak out and remind the world of the case for Marshall Field's.
Finally, for all who cannot attend our annual September rally at State and Washington, please ask someone else to attend--and save posting your well-intended "regrets" for AFTER rather then before the rally so we can show that the turnout would have been even larger.
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 12:55 pm CT
Instead, our city has allowed our greatest and best-known name in international fashion and design be carpet-bagged and replaced with a name that even New Yorkers know is not Marshall Field's equal--Macy's.
So now we are going to build a new fashion rep on a name synonymous with New York. Anything that is successful via Macy's here in Chicago will be credited to New York City; if it flops, people will say, "What do you expect? It's Chicago and the Midwest."
Chicago IS an International city in its own right, but we squander what is best about our city when we allow corporate raiders to take away international brands and institutions like Marshall Field's.
Our city needs to work to bring in a worthy steward who will restore Chicago's already known and most revered fashion name, Marshall Field's, and reinvent it again within the context of the 21st Century. Building our rep on NYC brand like Macy's is foolish.
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 7:20 am CT Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 12:29 am CT
He said, "They (Marshall Field's supporters) will forget all about the boycott and Marshall Field's by Thanksgiving time. They will be crowding into macy's in Chicago. Nothing is changing. Everything will remain the same. We are not worried."
He didn't know Chicagoans very well, did he? Field's Fans have multiplied by the tends of thousands in the meantime and macy's just limps along in its inferior way.
Let's keep spreading the word about the boycott against macy's and bloomingdale's. It is working!
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:19 pm CT
The Marshall Field spirit is alive and well! Please come---one and all! You'll meet new friends and walk away with a real sense of involvement. If you are bashful, don't let that stop you. Field's Fans will allow you to be yourself...and to feel welcome and do your thing! Marshall Field's is Chicago! Chicago is Marshall Field's!!
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 7:48 pm CT
When I asked, the guy said that Macy's supplies everything in his shop! This store might as well be owned by macy's band are just hiding behind the "local concept" the way starbucks has recently with its 12th street coffee shops.
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 5:11 pm CT
In my view the store itself and the history it embodies makes an important statement. While the services offered in later years were nothing to compare withe earlier services, such as special designs, and antique furniture restoration and upholstery, no doubt some of the things that set the store apart exist to this day.
I fully support your efforts and I extend my warmest wishes to all of you.
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 4:51 pm CT Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 2:40 pm CT
-Speak the name: Marshall Field's...and people automatically think of Chicago!
-Speak the name: Chicago...and people automatically think of Marshall Field's!
They are inseparable.
http://hooeyspewer.blogspot.com/2007/11/macys-borg.html
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 2:24 pm CT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a8uH0p6qx4M8&refer=news
Here is one highlighted comment:
``It's a very unorthodox and major mistake to give the Marshall Field's name the death penalty in Chicago,'' said Burt Flickinger, managing director of New York-based consulting firm Strategic Resource Group.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
All these words plus more can be stated in September, 2009! Please join our rally in front of 111 North State to show your support! Be prepared with comments of your own for the press, if you wish.
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 1:04 pm CT
http://weblogs.cltv.com/news/local/chicago/2007/11/macys_gives_up_but_maybe_it_should_get_out.html
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 11:25 am CT
The furniture dept was deplorable and I was embarrassed that I had told a first time visitor about what gorgeous furniture could be had there. But then I was recalling what it was like when it was Field's.
I went to guest services and mentioned to the woman there that I missed MF and she showed me a little hard cover book about Fields that she said they use when they conduct tours of the store. She said it was out of print. I would have bought a copy if I could.
What surprised me was that they were selling T-shirts with the MF logo on them at guest services. Of all the nerve!
MF used to convey elegance--now as Macy's the store is nothing special--except for the gorgeous Tiffany ceiling.
My thoughts are with you all.
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:48 am CT
It is a Great Big not special red star store-- just another red star store -- all be it - a BIG one.
Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 7:55 am CT Date: Monday, August 24, 2009 5:36 am CT
I grieve for the debasement the State St store has suffered, I really do.
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009 8:05 pm CT
I agree that the head of Macy's is too stubborn and egotistical to bring back Field's. I wouldn't be surprised if he knew he made a mistake. After all, the stores are worth less as Macy's than they were as Field's.
I also think it's important that we continue in our efforts and not tire. Eventually, Macy's will be sold again and the new owners will want to unlock the value of Marshall Field's by bringing it back. We need to remined the world of that. We shall persevere. Our cause is noble.
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009 3:50 pm CT
I look forward to September 13 at 1:00 p.m. on State Street, and am contacting my Field's-supporter friends and acquaintances. Even those who think Chicago is stuck with Messy's tell me, "It's NOT the same." The general attitude I hear reflects our survey--that a majority still prefer Field's. It would be great if Messy's and the media would wake up to the fact.
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009 3:31 pm CT
"Rachel Rachel Roy Launches Exclusively at Macy's"
This is also mentioned in the "Tribune," along with several articles on "Glamorama" (with comment blogs).
"Rachel Roy collection debuting at Macy's"
And speaking of stars, try this from the "Sun-Times:"
"Miss Piggy's gettin' jiggy with wardrobe"
(Somehow I think Miss Piggy deserves better.)
Macysinc.com website also announces a quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share:
"Macy's, Inc. Board Declcares Quarterly Dividend"
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009 12:01 pm CT Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009 8:55 pm CT
Strength is in numbers. The boycott is working! You can do your part wherever you live.
Marshall Field's needs us now...We need Marshall Field's now
..more than ever!
Thank you for your support to Marshall Field's.
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009 8:25 pm CT
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009 3:57 pm CT
I now live near Jacksonville, Illinois.
I have written Macy's and told them I will not do business at the Springfield store 35 miles from here, until they put Field's back in Chicago.
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009 10:38 am CT
Comments such as those convinced me to take week-end, summer and holiday trips back to Chicago from campus for some real shopping and bring some of my friends with me! Now, we have graduated, but ~I often hear from my sorority sisters and classmates. They talk about how macy's has nothing they are interested in as young adults in business careers, and how they longed for their trips to Chicago to Field's with me as their travel and shopping guide. As one of them said last week from Atlanta where macy's had bought two local department stores, "Why would macy's EVER even consider changing Marshall Field's merchandising, service, gourmet food, FRANGOS, designer lines and name! It's easy to boycott macy's in Atlanta and all over! They have nothing I want and their lack of service is deplorable. Bring back Marshall Field's for us "20 and 30 somethings" and for our parents', grandparents' and friends' 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 somethings age groups! If Field's is not brought back, my generation and future generations will never be able to have Marshall Field's as our favorite destination. Field's was special. It's nice to have special things in our lives, especially in these times.
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009 10:12 am CT Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009 1:02 am CT
Maybe we should have a Marshall Field's recipe potluck some time.
Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 10:23 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 9:12 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 9:01 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 8:32 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 7:01 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 5:50 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 4:27 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 2:30 pm CT Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 1:58 pm CT
Yes, I will be there.
I just had to post so I could gush about Field's!
Date: Frida, August 21, 2009 1:45 pm CT Date: Thursday, August 20, 2009 9:41 pm CT Date: Thursday, August 20, 2009 6:34 pm CT
Both are very worthy charities, but the Art Institute had many ties to Marshall Field's.
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:59 pm CT
One day we'll all see another sign on State Street... that will be the day we're all reveling in the streets.
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 9:04 pm CT
The interview was on short notice as part of a 37-minute segment on the name change from the "Sears Tower" to "Willis Tower". About 24 minutes is devoted to the conversion of Marshall Field's to Macy's.
Chicagoist has a short story, along with photos and a link to the podcast. It can be found at
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 9:00 pm CT Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 8:54 pm CT Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 6:53 pm CT
Great job, Mr Lunkhead! JC Penney and Kohl's realize that your stores aren't connecting with shoppers are are beating you up in your own back yard!
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:08 pm CT Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 5:32 pm CT Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:06 pm CT
Thanks so much and long live Field's!
Date: Monday, August 17, 2009 7:06 pm CT Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009 6:32 pm CT
My comment is in reply to S.B.'s previous post which I have pasted as follows:
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009 10:35 pm CT
Posted by: S.B.
Only an idiot who destroyed the "ultimate department store Marshall Field's" would ever say something like this --
"It's kind of like comparing apples and monkeys -- not even oranges," Mr. Lundgren says of the comparison of his company to JC Penney.
Wall Street Journal
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Funny thing...when I first read Mr. Lundgren's quote, I immediately thought of macy's as being the monkey and JCPenney's as being the red shiny apples because of all the "monkeying" around he did to Field's in transforming it into a discount store and downgrading it to a lower-class store in atmosphere, lack of service and much lower merchandise quality.
-Alexis
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:01 pm CT
Several "Tribune" articles mention Messy's second quarter results. One that I think takes the cake, though, is an interview with Karen Hoguet about their localization research. She claims more women want size 11 shoes. And that's ALL the article has to say!
"Macy's CFO Karen Hoguet discusses ideas generated as it tailors merchandise to local markets"
This article is in the "Sun-Times" too:
"Macy's sees demand for size 11 women's shoes"
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009 1:20 pm CT
"Macy's, Inc. Second Quarter Earnings, Cash Flow Exceeds Expectations"
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1319918&highlight=
Messy's again prides itself on number-crunching, while glossing over lower sales and citing the economy as an excuse. It remains in survival mode.
According to the report, "We were able to exceed our expectations with strong earnings and cash flow in the second quarter, despite lower sales in an economic environment that continues to be very difficult," said Terry J. Lundgren, Macy's, Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer.
If that's the case, however, why aren't shoppers saying, "I can hardly wait for the economy to get better so I can head over to Macy's!" What I keep hearing is, "I like your button--Macy's just isn't the same [as Field's]!"
And why did a majority of people answering the Field's Fans survey say they prefer Field's to Macy's?
And I am hearing enthusiasm about the Field's Fans' event planned for September 13, 2009, more than for the idea of having to shop at Messy's.
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009 10:58 am CT
Next I went to the information desk by the fountain on the first floor, and asked if Messy's is doing anything to commemorate Daniel Burhham for the 100th anniversary of his "Plan for Chicago" (since the rest of the City is doing it and the State Street store IS a lovely Burnham building). The person at the desk said not to her knowledge and it was really a shame. She gave me a flier from the general City tourism stuff they have that mentioned Burnham, and said that was the only thing she knew of that Macy's had to offer in connection with the Burnham commemorations.
Macy's IS highligthing Glamorama with very RED, young and trendy windows. Green stain still adorn the Burnham building facade, and the the floor tiles are still cracked.
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009 12:28 am CT
Are you longing for a Marshall Field's Chicken Salad Sandwich as much as I am? Well, then, here is a recipe for you to enjoy without breaking our boycott of macy's until the return of Marshall Field's. Besides, would you want to risk tasting a cheapened ingredient chicken salad by macy's or the risk of contamination from fruit flies? (Remember how the Chicago Department of Health closed macy's lower level restaurants when large amounts of fruit flies were reported and detected two years ago?)
Enjoy!
http://www.wiblovia.com/kibology/cookbook/recipes/Marshall_Fields_Chicken_Salad_Sandwich.html
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:35 am CT
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:48 am CT
Awe inspiring and grand exhibits,culinary delights and sophisticated sensuality blended cozily with everyday comfort and practicality.
Family traditions came to include Field's. Thanksgiving shopping at Field's was a basic..spring luncheons in the Tea Room, the Gigantic Christmas tree was a must see at Christmas time.....
I too do not want a "new trinket" if it means throwing out a treasured old jewel.
I think maybe the corporate decision makers should educate themselves regarding the difference between tarnish and a warm patina.
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:29 pm CT
Financial period after financial period since 2006, he has used the excuse of "consolidation costs" draining macy's finances. If he would have kept the stores as they were, there would be no "consolidation", therefore no continuing, consolidating costs!
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009 10:50 am CT Date: Friday, August 14, 2009 9:43 am CT
You want to know what the best "localization" plan would be, Ms. Hoguet?? Bring back Marshall Field's in all its glory---fine quality and extensive merchandise selection, fine service, comfortable elegant ambiance, all its quality throughout, and unique departments and large selection, and of course, the Marshall Field's name! How difficult is it to realize what the best localization is? Your financial picture would be enormously better, let me tell you.
The Marshall Field's grass-roots movement is getting larger and larger, and stronger and stronger. We are not going away!
Keep boycotting macy's and bloomingdale's! It's working, good people!
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009 12:09 am CT
There is a "Macy's Presidential Complaints" site and forum.
Supposedly "Melissa", Assistant to President Lundgren, fields comments at a telephone number that is contained in the following link.
There have been 4,503 viewing hits so far on the blogsite.
Sounds like a perfect invitation to each and every one of us to submit comments by phone and email. (Be sure to scroll all the way down to read the comments on the blogsite.)
Here is one of the very best comments, from "rdldr1", that anyone could possibly come up with, as follows:
rdldr1
4:39 AM on Tue Jul 22 2008 Im gonna call and ask if Marshall Fields is there. When they say "no," I'm going to ask when is he coming back?
"Melissa" is apparently as far as macy's goes to be a "Town Hall Forum" for grass roots persons to air their feelings.
Date: Thursday, August 13, 2009 10:47 pm CT
"macy-ification" and downgrading of the Marshall Field & Company Building hold true even more in 2009...
"While it's true that Marshall Field's on State Street was once a magnificent and unique Chicago shopping experience, this sadly is no longer the case. Macy's has given Chicago's most famous store a distinctively discount feel. Where Marshall Field's once represented Chicago as does Bergdorf Goodman in New York and Harrod's in London, Macy's want customers to know it serves America. Macy's is part of a 800 store chain that competes with Target, Kohl's and Wal-Mart. Although the building is still quite amazing to see, it's now full of a generic assortment of private label brands, other merchandise heavy on the low-end or entry level collections from outside designers, tacky displays, self-service price scanner and shopping carts. The grandeur, quality and service of Marshall Field's has left the building. - Sarah, 03/28/2007"
Please read more comments at:
Do you understand, Mr. Terry Lundgren, Pres/CEO & Chairman of macy's inc? Do you understand, Ms. Linda Piepho, manager of the once-elegant and world-famous State Street Store? Do you understand, members of macy's board of directors? Do you understand. macy's shareholders?
Date: Thursday, August 13, 2009 9:18 pm CT
Just thought I would fill you in on something that I found very interesting as I went to the movies a weeks ago.
My wife and I went to see "The Ugly Truth" and before the movie they were showing previews.
The first one was for the new movie "The Time Travlers Wife", which takes place in Chicago.
In the opening scenes of the preview you see the main character as a child running through the woods with something truly magical in her hand.
A beautiful, Green, Marshall Field's Shopping bag!!!!!!!!!
As soon as I saw this I got chills and started to miss Field's so much. I am definatly going to see this movie and this also tells me that the people in Hollywood understand the value of Marshall Field's as much as we do!
I totally reccomend seeing this movie.
Marshall Field's will never die!
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:30 pm CT Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:43 pm CT
I see the M-store is still taking restructuring charges (related to divisional consolidations and localization initiatives)...now $34M! We need to add up all these charges...should be past $100M by now plus the loss of "good will"
Macy;s is also trying to bury this little fact: "For the year to date, Macy's, Inc.'s sales totaled $10.363 billion, down 9.6 percent from total sales of $11.465 billion in the first 26 weeks of 2008. On a same-store basis, Macy's, Inc.'s year-to-date sales were down 9.3 percent."
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 12:01 pm CT Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 2:49 pm CT
L. Grand
Grand Rapids, MI
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:29 pm CT
Field's could have been the high point and savior, if he had not changed everything that was going smoothly at Field's---the fine service, ambiance, merchandise selection and high quality, varied departments, and name. The drop in sales revenue could have been a whole lot less for macy's inc. People shopped at Field's in good times and bad economic times. Field's was a distinctive international destination and was throughly Chicago at its best !
Date: Monday, August 10, 2009 7:37 pm CT
Layoffs, store closings, reductions in merchandise selections are only stopgap measures to delay the inevitable. Sales are down because macy*mart has failed to connect with customers through its arrogance, hubris and disrespect for communities across the nation.
The upcoming Back to School and holiday shopping seasons should be very "exciting" as King Lunkhead cuts back on staff and fills the stores with his "exclusive" house brand merchandise.
Date: Monday, August 10, 2009 5:39 pm CT
e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g the same. Well, everything has changed, for the worse. I wonder what Mrs. Daley thinks?
I've heard so many people say that they would make frequent special trips into downtown Chicago from the suburbs or from out-of-state JUST to spend a day shopping at Field's. I'm told there is a store manager, but she obviously does NOT play an active role in ensuring the store is maintained well, kept clean, the display windows interesting and professional, the restrooms clean, elevators and escalators kept operating, floor tiles repaired professionally, and the brass plaques kept shining, and nice appealing music playing, as it all was before macy's took over. The merchandise displays look better at K-Mart in many cases, plus K-Mart stores are cleaner than macy's on State, officially known as the legendary, famous amd historic Marshall Field & Co. Building.
I want my Marshall Field's back...now!
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009 9:25 pm CT Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009 4:04 pm CT
So Chicago!
macy's---as bland and boring as it gets.
so everywhere.
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009 2:02 pm CT
"Q2 2009 Macy's, Inc., Earnings Conference Call"
I can hardly wait--wonder if we will learn anything new.
BTW--I still get the same reaction to our buttons, "Oh, you want your Marshall Field's too!"
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009 11:03 am CT
Not long after the My Macy's thing took root, the State Street store's website showed a new vigor. There were all sorts of events posted; wine tastings, trunk shows, etc. Not any more; About three months ago, events stopped being announced and only recently was anything new added to the site, namely Glamorama and some Izod event. The other events listed were at Woodfield or national. So much for a rather short lived focus on a once great store.
Emeril Lagasse has been added to the Field's Culinary Council. What a surprise! For those of you that don't know, Martha Stewart Living bought the Emeril product brand (not restaurants) last year, so this is a natural fit for future product launches at the red star.
Martha Stewart's Robin Marino had some interesting comments during their second quarter earnings call. Here's a few of the highlights from an article in Home Textiles Today:
"As the second anniversary of the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's approaches, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia still isn't providing hard numbers about the exclusive program's revenue and profit contributions to its merchandising portfolio"
"Continues to be a top performer at Macy's"
"Is the number one bridal registery brand at Macy's"
"Merchandising revenue DROPPED 45% to 9 million this year from 16.2 million last year in the second quarter"
"Our merchandising performance in the quarter reflected a number of factors, including lower royalties from Kmart, which was expected, as our relationship winds down"
OK, so let's think about this. No numbers? Of course not; it's the Macy's way. Number one Bridal brand? Macy's has been eliminating Bridal registery in all but it's largest stores, so I guess when only a few stores offer this service, it's pretty easy for it to be #1. How about that drop in revenue? Sure retail is in the tank and Martha and the big K are parting ways, but if Macy's Martha stuff is such a great performer at Macy's, how can it's merchandise performance be down 45%? Obviously, Macy's great product line up (at much higher prices and margins than Kmart) can't make up for revenue from Kmart, if it did revenue should be up, slightly down or flat, BUT not down 45%!!!
She then went on to say what a great job WalMart and Michaels are doing with craft items, seasonal etc. So that 9 mil for the quarter included Kmart, Macy's Wal Mart, Michaels and independent retailers. So let's see; Macy's was only one of several retailers generating that 9 mil and Macy's has 800 stores, so how much did each Macy's store do in Martha stuff in the Bridal heavy second quarter? In my opinion: NOT MUCH!!! Way to flop!
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009 9:38 am CT
I wonder how smart it is to dismantle a treasured traditionC3for example, like the downtown first floor, undoubtedly in the name of appealing to 'youth.' (I refer to when the mahogany cases were removed long before the current desecrations.) Quality and elegance have a transcendent appeal when allowed to outlive their trendy period. The tradition represented by that layout was a spectacular one even if someone born in 1846 figured it out. As a youth I loved it. As a visual arts person I loved it. As a romantic, I loved it. There is a lot of old stuff on the planet, worth loving and stewarding.
When something is really great, it is great for a loooooonnnnngggg time because it resonates with a deep part of our human nature that is beyond moods of a moment. When something is merely trendyC3inherently attractive to 'youth' C3it is trendy for minutes, and the youths to whom it appeals have short attention spans and no loyalty. Duh.
It may be that Americans are Peter and Polly Pan. Certainly most commercial interests push the notion that maturing is an evil and avoidable mistake; we have come to accept that idea as a given. I am not impressed by arguments that I should be happy to see 'new' dominate simply because old is bad. I love New as much as the next.... but not when it is a new trinket pushed at me in substitution for an old jewel.
Date: Friday, August 7, 2009 8:39 pm CT
really -- comparing apples and monkeys -- Lundgren is SO insulting -- PENNEY'S are the apples and red star are the monkeys!!!!!!
Penneys is GREAT!!!!
Also JIM IS SO RIGHT AND SO SPOT ON -- really Think about Chicago with out ever having had Field's
Museum of Natural History --Aquarium -- Pleasing and Endearing Millions of tourists for MORE than 150 years and providing a "feel good" memory of our beloved Chicago-- ALL of Chicagoans memories of Field's for decades-- instrumental in fashioning State Street in its' hey day- insrumental in Fashion period! The Glamorama--The Jingle Elf Parade --Uncle Mistletoe-- TOO MUCH
Think of the loss IF Field's never was !!
Also -- I just returned tonight from business traveling and I investigated yet another red star for Frango's--This store -- a Large store in Northwestern PA
Any Frangos-- None now- questioning any for the Holidays?--Sales associate had no idea.
Date: Friday, August 7, 2009 5:07 pm CT
Memo to Mr Lunkhead: It hasn't worked the past few years, it isn't working now and nothing you do will make it work in the foreseeable future.
Date: Friday, August 7, 2009 10:28 am CT
I doubt we'll see Field's return even in name, let alone in quality, as long as current management is in place, but give it some time. CEOs aren't forever. Although their profits were better than expected, sales were worse. There is only so much cost cutting a company can do. As Apple has shown, a premium company that puts out goods and services that people want to buy weathers a recession better than someone who just cuts costs. Hopefully future management will figure this out and do the right thing for Chicago.
Date: Friday, August 7, 2009 8:40 am CT
Could someone provide an analysis of the TOTAL sales losses since King Terry slapped Red Stars on almost every decent department store in the USA?
No doubt August's Back to School sales will be very dismal for macy*mart. Parents are looking for quality and value while kids want style. Somehow Tommy Hilfiger, American Rag and Tassa Elbo don't readily come to mind when kids are putting together their school outfits. For some reason, macy*mart hasn't really connected with young people who realize the store offers overpriced, poor quality discount store clothing or with parents who remember the experience of buying great back to school clothing they would be proud to wear.
Date: Friday, August 7, 2009 8:35 am CT
So, if Karen Houget does use her canned defensive statement once again, she should be called down on it by financial analysts during the webcast and be asked for real figures.
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009 11:58 pm CT Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009 10:29 am CT Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009 9:11 am CT Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:23 pm CT Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 12:35 am CT
Continue the boycott! It's working. We want our Marshall Field's back.
Date: Monday, August 3, 2009 3:24 pm CT Date: Monday, August 3, 2009 12:57 am CT
Best wishes to you in your quest to bring back a major symbol and icon of Chicago---Marshall Field's department store.
In Hawaii, we still miss our fine Liberty House department stores. The anchor flagship store was a block square, 4-story department store in Ala Moana Center at the entrance to Waikiki. Liberty House was a major tourist, as well as a retail experience for residents.
It was Hawaii's department store! LH had eight branch mall locations in the Islands, as well as 27 small boutique resort shops. Macy's has closed a good many of them. They each had a tremendous business under Liberty House ownership.
Liberty House was a major tourist draw, as Marshall Field's was for Chicago. Tourists loved shopping LH for its full-line department store of high quality merchandise and high fashion. It had four restaurants, all with the best tasting food around for all tastes. The bakery was one of the very best in the Islands, in the same way as Marshall Field's bakery. In fact, LH sold FRANGO mints, under a contract with the Frederick & Nelson department stores of Seattle, a division of Marshall Field & Co.
I am a senior travel and tourist coordinator for a major Hawaii leisure company, and I deal with tourists of all income levels daily in my profession. Now, since macy's took over Liberty House, I continually hear that a huge majority want to scratch macy's off as a destination because "they have a macy's back home" and why would they want to see yet another macy's when they are on vacation. It happens time, after time, after time, so now it's to be assumed. Besides, it's obvious that macy's has downgraded the quality of the merchandise, eliminated many of the high fashion and Hawaiian-based designers. The restaurants have been closed. They were always packed with customers dining while shopping amongst the blooming tropical plants.
So, Mainlanders, Australians, Japanese, Asian and European vacationers to Hawaii, now avoid macy's in Hawaii because "it's nothing special anymore".
Keep up the fight and boycott, Field's Fans. Residents and vacationers of Hawaii despise macy's too and, in effect, are boycotting it over here too! Much Aloha to each of you!
Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009 3:19 pm CT
"Chef Emeril Lagasse Joins Macy's Culinary Council"
Something that stands out more and more to me lately is how Macy's incessantly tries to attract attention with those persons it considers stars (while also plastering its red star on everything), but seems oblivious to a Chicago star being honored this year--Daniel H. Burnham. Burhham, the architect who designed the Marshall Field's building on State Street, is being celebrated throughout Chicago on the 100th anniversary of his "Plan for Chicago." Yet Messy's neglects the State Street building, one of Burnham's creations, and doesn't seem to think it important to give the Burnham name due recognition at this time.
This sends another clear messages that Messy's just plain doesn't care about Chicago. Messy's cares about Messy's. In turn, Chicago sees no reason to care about Messy's.
I have nothing personal against Chef Emeril Lagasse, but what about Burnham, what about Chicago, what about Chicago patrons? People still respond to my "I want my Marshall Field's!" button with "I want my Marshall Field's too!" They say Messy's just isn't the same.
Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009 12:42 am CT
I think the final nail in the coffin were the riots of 1992, Bullocks/I.Magnin was a victim of the mobs that year, the store was looted, no department store wants to be located in a violent area. People stopped shopping in that area, they didn't feel safe. I am glad that Southwestern had the sensitivity to restore this great building. On this Wikipedia thread describes B/W and the changing demographics.
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009 5:12 am CT Date: Friday, July 31, 2009 10:35 pm CT
"It's kind of like comparing apples and monkeys -- not even oranges," Mr. Lundgren says of the comparison of his company to JC Penney.
Wall Street Journal
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009 10:11 pm CT
Sorry for my typos in last night's posting, Field's Fans. I made some typos, since I was so upset about what Lundgren has done to destroy Field's as we knew it. I mispelled "example" and also meant to say "original formula Coke" in the paragraph. I'm sure most of you have been so exasperated by losing Field's as part of our lives, that we cannot get our fingers coordinated enough to our fast moving thoughts of disgust. Please see my corrected copy in the second to last paragraph. The corrected words are within the ***and***. Thank you for your understanding. Bless you all for what you are doing in the true spirit of Marshall Field. We can make it happen. We may have some ulcers and headaches in the meantime, but someday soon our efforts will be redeemed with the return of Marshall Field's.
I have never known of a company which deliberately antagonizes an enormous customer base and steadfastly will not budge out of being plain stubborn. Every other company, other than macy's, would listen and somehow save public image and correct course back to the way customers liked.
***They are in business to keep customers coming back. Coca-Cola Inc., as an example, admitted the mistake of New Coke and went back to producing and marketing the original formula Coke.***
I cannot imagine a highly respected company, such as Nordstrom, for example, having their reputation tarnished by continuation of a bad decision. They would correct it. People would respect such a company and then patronize them. It seems that macy's thrives on discord and doing the opposite of what the customer wants! Smart CEOs want to hold onto each and every customer they already have. It's far easier to keep your present customer base by responsive management, than having to find new customers im today's market. (That's what my Univ of Illinois marketing professor told us last semester.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009 8:32 pm CT
According to a Wikipedia article on Bullock's Wilshire, macy*s also stripped the building of its historic artifacts after the store closed. What a class act! What great respect for community history and tradition!
macy*s is the like the McDonald's of department stores. Same old, same old coast to coast.
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009 3:20 pm CT
1919: Harrods buys the Manchester department store, Kendals; it took on the Harrods name for a short time in the 1920s, but the name was changed back to Kendals following protests from staff and customers.[5]
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009 10:40 am CT Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009 8:42 pm CT Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009 8:16 pm CT Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009 5:16 pm CT Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009 12:42 pm CT Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009 6:47 am CT
Our local Sibley's, no Kaufmann's- no waitaminit now it's Macy's..... no one was better than the other. Here in the Rochester NY area, that was the best we could do. After moving here decades ago and familiarizing myself with Sibley's downtown-- it was only depressing- they were clearly trying to be Field's State Street and failing pathetically. And downhill it all went from there.
Oh, Marshall Field's of State Street, you were so very special.
Oh, Terry Lundgren et al, you are so very over.
Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 12:47 pm CT
http://www.lynnbecker.com/repeat/fields/fields.htm
Keep explain our goals and reasoning to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members, classmates and club members! Boycott all macy's and bloomindale's stores. The boycott IS working!!
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 10:30 pm CT Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 3:57 pm CT
This is an article in the Dallas Morning News. Please read the comments from former Foley's shoppers. There are even several referring to Marshall Field's and your boycott! Yeah!
I have seen more and more of Macy's cheap goods (Sean John, Donald Trump, Tommy Hilfiger) showing up at TJ Maxx and Ross Dress for Less. I guess they still can't unload it at their flea markets.
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009 7:25 pm CT
Earlier this year, Drew brought the website to our attention.
Although some may call them subjective comments, still they do shed a lot of light on the inner workings of macy's management and do raise into question certain methods of operation, or should I say, mis-operation.
http://www.retail-worker.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=23&sid=bfc3628c3de7e779629cc8b32ff6cc38
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009 4:43 pm CT
Mike now writes for the Tribune's ChicagoNow blog.
He wrote about the Willis/Sears issue and compares it with Field's and Macy's. He makes some good points, but I don't like how he suggests the switch to Macy's is just a name change but you could comment with a simply login that is required.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicagosphere/2009/07/silence-isnt-golden-for-the-w-tower.html
Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009 4:56 pm CT
Calling all field's bakery staff!!!!
I know someone out there must have a reciepe for the famous cheesecake that had a pie like crust,currents or rasins,and was served in a oblong shape. My heart and belly has been dying to make this. Any suggestions?
Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009 4:08 pm CT Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009 10:22 pm CT
Their sentiments ring truer today. Feel free to add your own comments. No registration is required. This is one more means to spread our stance, and to publicize even further our boycott against macy's and bloomingdale's.
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009 7:41 pm CT
At macy's, I have gone in a few times to try it, and even though I feel alright going in, I feel depressed and saddened and have to leave immediately. Now it's: If you want to get depressed, go into macy's.
All the Marshall Field charm, unique merchandising, and knowledgable, pleasant sales associates are gone.
The State Street store manager, Linda Piepho, does not seem to care about the degrading and cheap flea market she is managing. When I have attempted to speak with her office staff, I am met with: "Oh, it must just be you. Everyone else seems to LOVE macy's."
What?!?!
(In other words, Maybe if you say something long enough and often enough, people will believe it. Not so! We KNOW the aura and cleanliness, and unique merchandising that was truly Field's has been eradicated.) Nothing is the same.)
Keep the boycott going! Bring Field's back!!
Date: Friday, July 24, 2009 5:49 pm CT
Keep spreading the word. You all are doing a fantastic job.
The boycott IS working!!
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009 3:42 pm CT
"Those wacky folks at macy*s"--who closed many, many in-store eateries, discontinued gourmet food departments and dropped quality cookware lines --have now decreed their store will influence "the way customers shop, cook and eat." Evidently Mr Lunkhead and his management team have no grasp of reality.
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:18 pm CT Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009 12:39 pm CT Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009 12:06 pm CT
The store was practically deserted, extremely sparsely stocked...almost as though they didn't have the inventory to stock the store, and Im sure I could have died and not one of those morons that work there would have noticed.
In the past 10 years the Customer Service of Macy's has gone down the crapper. They love to exude this posh, polished and pretentious aura about them when they are really just a glorified Wal-mart. Im sorry, you can put lipstick on a pig but its still a pig.
I was at Marshall Fields in 2005 around Christmas. We Dined in the Walnut Room, ate up the Christmas Decorations, and spent almost $2500 on stuff we didnt need but boy was it a perfect time. I still treasure that time we spent in there that Christmas Season.... It truly changed my perspective of what a Department Store is and should be. I want it back, Especially since we're moving to Chicago soon....Where am I gonna shop?
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:00 pm CT
It can be found at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0722chicagojul22,0,4600391.story
Be sure to comment afterwards in the Topix forums.
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 4:15 pm CT
My friend settled on a pair of sunglasses which she said were okay, but nothing special. She had to specifically ASK the Red Star sales associate for a sunglasses case, which was a thin plastic envelope. On the way out of the Red Star, the security alarm went off. My friend was humiliated when the security guards approached her. Evidently the cheap sunglasses case had a security tag which was not deactivated.
Needless to say, my friend told everyone she knows about her shopping experience at the Red Star. She said that many other people had similar stories about bad experiences at the Red Star. Evidently a store with such a wide customer base and sterling reputation can afford to be arrogant.
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 12:17 pm CT
[ Help Marshall Field's return by leabing comments after Richard Roeper's column. It can be found at:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/roeper/1678230,CST-NWS-roep22.article ]
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 10:09 pm CT Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 7:52 pm CT Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 8:34 am CT
Well, she replied, certainly NO ONE stops by and rejoices over the change. I have not heard of any pro Macy comments. International travelers and persons from out of the Illinois region are shocked when they hear Marshall Field's is now Macy's.
Another person who was standing by waiting for info, told me about your Field's Fans organization and how it is getting stronger by the week.
Finally, a second visitor center representative commented that macy's is being mentioned, but not in a good way. One person after another is are saddened or angry about the demise of Marshall Field's in every possible way. Field's was a unique store, to be sure, and will always be missed. Field's drew people to Chicago.
Date: Monday, July 20, 2009 10:42 pm CT
It's a great Field's day!
I was just sitting here at my computer, with WFMT radio playing in the background. Host Andrew Pattner was discussing a film, In Search of Mozart, which is playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Mr. Pattner decribed the location of the Film Center as "across the street from that former great store, Marshall Field's." I love this guy! He never mentioned the M* word.
And, earlier today, another coworker approached me and said "okay, you were right!" I didn't know what he was talking about until he launched into a story about trying to buy a suit at the former Field's store in Oak Brook. He said that they had basically two suit lines: an overpriced one, and a poor quality one. He said the selection was dismal, help was poor, and the store looked terrible since his last visit there a few years ago. He said the store no longer carries men's shoes and men's leather accessories such as wallets. I find that hard to believe, but even if they do still carry these items, they are so poorly merchandised that at least one customer couldn't find them. He went on to Nordstrom's and found what he wanted.
It's really funny...I work for a large company, and many of my coworkers used to tease me relentlessly about my involvement with Field's Fans. One by one, they've approached me with horror stories about the M store, and expressed their hope that we're successful in our quest for Field's return. My coworker today commented on the lack of maintenance, the empty departments and thinly spread merchandise, and the lack of employees. He said "it's quite obvious they're in trouble. Field's never looked like that."
When Macy's says "it's just a name change," they're not fooling anyone.
gayle
Date: Monday, July 20, 2009 7:32 pm CT
"Since Marshall Field's is gone, shopping is no longer special for me in Chicago. Shopping was a major event for me, and that meant spending an entire day examining every floor of Marshall Field's, including the Walnut Room. I took a day of vacation time for Marshall Field's. Field's was that special to me, and for so many of my friends! Being a New Yorker, why would I want to waste my time going into Macy's? They're everywhere.
Now I just fly in to a business meeting, have a memorable dinner at a Chicago restaurant and then fly out! Not even any more hotel rooms for me in Chicago, because Marshall Field's was Chicago for me, and worth the price of staying over!"
Chicago is blander now.
Date: Monday, July 20, 2009 2:28 pm CT
I was shopping at a Kohl's in suburban Pittsburgh over the weekend and was most impressed by the wide selection of national brand and store brand merchandise. Kohl's also has great customer service and the coupons and storewide discounts apply to ALL merchandise. The store was very busy. I was talking with another customer in the checkout line and this person said "We NEVER bother going to macy*s because you can never find anything you want." The cashier said, "People tell us that all the time." Perhaps Mr Lunkhead should shop the competition to see what he's doing wrong.
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2009 4:08 pm CT
I still can't believe Messy's stupidity in relation to image. First things visible at the State Street store are often chips and stains on the exterior, window displays of hideous flamingos and other tacky designs, occasional graffiti, billboards, missing door handles, cracked floor tiles, and broken escalators. Then there is an obvious lack of customers, sales associates waiting for somebody to show up, and overly-trendy tacky merchandise. This is the image a person sees before they even get near the Hilfiger fashion incubator that is Messy's latest hype. And this is the image now connected with a Daniel H. Burnham building at a time when Chicago is celebrating Burnham.
Messy's has managed to find another way to slap Chicago in the face. Yet they and the media expect the world to be so excited over their association with Hilfiger. Sorry, I can see. I don't buy it.
(Incidentally, I called the "Sun-Times" talk back number to leave comments about their fashion incubator/Hilfiger article starting Tuesday July 14, and kept getting a message that voicemail was full until Saturday July 18.)
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009 3:59 pm CT Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009 5:18 am CT Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009 3:40 am CT
Date: Friday, July 17, 2009 8:30 pm CT Date: Friday, July 17, 2009 6:09 pm CT
You need a login to post responses or you can write the editor via a contact page at the Daily Herald site.
Date: Friday, July 17, 2009 6:08 pm CT
I WILL NOT SHOP MACY'S and will rather give Nieman-Marcus or Lord & Taylor my business rather than Macy's.
Willis Tower ?
U.S. Cellular BallPark ?
Who the %$*! do they think they're dealing with ??
Date: Friday, July 17, 2009 5:02 pm CT
Speaking of Frango mints, one of our friends who worked at Field's while going to Northwestern University liked to tell of the many Chicagoans and tourists who packed the Marshall Field's. She remarked that she often did not have a chance to rest because of the steady business at her Frango counter. People liked the fresh taste of the mints, and insisted in the original recipe. Frangos were the drawing card at Field's!
Macy's executives don't have a clue!
Date: Friday, July 17, 2009 12:01 pm CT
Right now, it's running neck and neck between Sears/Willis and Field's/Macy's. Go on over and vote for Field's.
It's in the leftmost column.
Date: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:34 am CT Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009 7:59 pm CT
The links to stories where you can comment are too numerous. The Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times sites are two starting points; with news.google.com showing 700+ articles on Sears, Willis, Field's and Macy's, there's plenty to comment on.
Too often, these reporters are calling the switch from Field's to Macy's a "name change". Please remind people in your posts that it is much more than a name change. In the case of Sears and Willis, it's still the same tower with a different name and that tower is unique. With Field's, it's been a switch service, merchandise and ambience as well as name...and, unlike the Tower, Field's is pretty much the same as 800
other stores in the USA, greatly reducing it's appeal as a destination.
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:24 pm CT Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009 6:17 am CT
"Close enough" is not the guiding principle that made Marshall Field's a treasure.
Doomed from the git-go.
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:40 am CT
The sales associate replied that he must be talking about the chocolates in the green boxes "over there". She commented that management did not explain anything about the Frango Mints so that she and the other sales people could better sell them. She said that macy's just stuck them over in a dark corner where no one could see them. Under her breath, she turned and stated that it's almost like macy's does not want to sell them, as though they don't want the mints to catch on and succeed! She continued that macy's ruined the Foley's stores in Denver, and macy's really didn't seem to care about marketing...nor the employees, and most of all, not the customers.
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:24 pm CT
the tragic of macy*mart--nothing special, no place special
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:19 pm CT
As Mr Lunkhead drops departments and services, pares back merchandise assortments and enacts other cutbacks, retail space will be reduced. The classic downtown store will be even more a clone of the typical mall store. As the downtown stores will offer nothing to distinguish themselves from the suburban macy*mart outlets, I would predict business will fall even further and Lunkhead will shutter them.
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 4:43 pm CT
"The store was taking a different path, and we wanted to continue doing what we do best," Swan said.
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 3:20 pm CT
January 30, 2009
The move comes two years later than originally planned. Macy's announced in October 2007 that it planned to bring Frango mint production back to Chicago with Cupid Candies."
Oct 17, 2007
We submitted I would guess somewhere around a dozen samples to them until they felt we were close enough to the taste texture and shape of the piece," Stefanos said."
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 1:01 pm CT
Wednesday, July 15
WLS Channel 7 Morning news
Femail anchor (Judy Hsu?)does voice over for story with video footage about Frango production returning to Chicago. Camera cuts back to news desk. Male anchor (Mark?)says, "Now if Macy's would just call it Marshall Field's again, they might really have something."
You gotta love him. Thank you channel 7!
So what took a year to bring production back to Chicago? Oh, and what happened to making the candy in the demo kitchen on the 7th floor. That lasted only for a few weeks during the holiday crush.
You long-term readers may recall that Macy's told Cupid Candies "to develop a recipe that tasted like Frango Mints." So Cupid is not really making Frango Mints...just a "taste-a-like." I continue to get reports that the candy is usually stale and waxy...some with a white powder (called blushing) which is a sure sign of cheap ingredients and/or candy that has been mishandled.
Those wacky folks at Macy's cannot get anything right.
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:47am CT
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 7:23 pm CT
Terry Lundgren is a cross between a snake oil sales man and the emperor without clothes.
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 6:43 pm CT
With Field's, I'm hoping for the day when I can return to State Street and it says "Marshall Field's" on the awnings, and can purchase quality merchandise on ALL of its floors.
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 9:20 pm CT
Last month in my travels -- I visited a red star store in a large northern ohio city suburb and I found that there was NO Frango merchandise available.
A few days later I visited a different red star store and again found NO Frango merchandise.
More recently in a store in PA in a small market area, again NO Frango merchandise.
In the second Ohio location, I asked if they were going to get any and the sales associate said that they would probably get some for the holidays, in the fall, but that in the past season the "Frango stuff" did not sell well.
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 6:18 pm CT
As others have pointed out, Marshall Field is Chicago's best known brand world-over. There's no need to reinvent the wheel, especially when Field's was a solid gold wheel of beauty.
Date:Tuesday , July 14, 2009 2:59 pm CT
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1664971,w-hilfiger-designer-chicago-fashion-071409.article
As always, please help out by leaving comments after the Sun-Times article, writing letters to the editor at letters@suntimes.com and talkback@suntimes.com and/or calling (312) 321-2360 (It only takes 30 seconds to leave a message on the phone.)
Crain's Chicago Business is also featuring a story on this and Frangos. The Frangos story is part of a video clip so you have to write a letter to Crains' editor at letters@chicagobusiness.com With a simple registration, you can also comment on the Hilfiger story at http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?static_id=1
Date:Tuesday , July 14, 2009 2:00 pm CT
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/food/1664273,CST-FIN-FRANGO14web.article
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Macy's has finally ironed out the logistics of making Frangos in Chicago, after about a year and half of milking the possibility for publicity. So far, reader responses to the article indicate that most Chicagoans are still not impressed. Not surprising since Field's was much, much, much more than a candy store, although it was a great candy store, among many, many, many other things
Please help out by leaving comments after the Sun-Times article, writing letters to the editor at letters@suntimes.com and talkback@suntimes.com and/or calling (312) 321-2360 (It only takes 30 seconds to leave a message on the phone.)
Other newspapers, TV and radio stations, and more will also cover this as well as a story about Tommy Hilfiger being part of the fashion incubator on State Street. Please respond to these reports where ever possible--on the web, via phone calls, and letters to the editor.
Date: Monday, July 13, 2009 4:20 pm CT Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:00 pm CT
An exhibit on Swedish contractor Andrew Lanquist credits the firm Lanquist and Illsley with construction of "The Marshall Field & Company Men's Building on State Street." The exhibit includes a photo of the store (with photo credit given to "Jazz Age Chicago.") The exhibit is also mentioned on flickr, crediting Lanquist with construction of the "Marshall Field's Annex on State Street."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/no22a/2224039354/
Perhaps someone has more information on this fascinating building, which was designed by Daniel H. Burnham--who, by the way, is being honored this year throughout the City on the 100th anniversary of his "Plan of Chicago."
Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:21 pm CT
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1305973&highlight=
The "Tribune" had several articles in recent days that also mention the status of Messy's (with comment blogs to post).
Most recent at the time of this post is:
"Weak retail sales worrisome for fall" July 10, 2009 by Andrea Chang
An "Associated Press" article in the "Sun-Times" claims Messy's has racks of summer merchandise already marked down up to 50 percent:
"Merchants already dismissing summer as a washout" June 30, 2009 by Associated Press
Yes the economy is still a "challenge," but customers just plain have not warmed up to Macy's. Nobody has ever said to me, "Gee, I hope I get more money soon so I can go shop at Macy's!" What I did hear a lot on State Street when I visited there July 3 was, "It's just not the same as Field's!"
Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009 11:00 am CT Date: Saturday, July 11, 2009 2:55 pm CT Date: Saturday, July 11, 2009 12:22 pm CT
With the regional office structure gone from Macy's (including some positions redistributed to more local offices) there's not need for these spaces. I would expect spaces from the former regional offices in Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, and San Francisco to also be leased or sub-leased by Macy's.
As Field's supporters, one has to wonder what will happen to upper floors at State Street. Some of the space has been allocated to the new "localization" staff but not all of it.
Date: Friday, July 10, 2009 2:30 pm CT
Thanks,
Larry in Philly
Date: Friday, July 10, 2009 12:35 am CT Date: Thursday, July 9, 2009 6:23 pm CT
Every single one of you whom I have met, either in person or through this site, have helped me to gain a greater understanding of Field's far-reaching effects on our lives and culture.
In the spirit of inclusiveness, if any of you have Field's artifacts that I could use to illustrate the book, I'd be eternally grateful. You could either send me a digital picture, or I could arrange to come and take photos. I will of course credit you in the caption. Also, if you have any significant stories regarding how Field's touched your life, I'd love to hear them. I'd especially like to talk with past employees.
Feel free to email me.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Your friend in Field's,
Gayle
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 10:10 pm CT
It's too bad it didn't become a Marshall Field's as it was intended.
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 11:09 pm CT
JCPenney is wasting no time and pulling no punches in going after Macy's which is, of course, just up the street on 34th Street.
JCPenney's advertising campaign actually appears to be poking fun Macy's campaign from September 2006 where we were all supposed to be thrilled that our favorite department store was becoming Macy's.
Check out the New York Times article:
and the JCPenney website for the NYC flagship:
If you are a Field's Fan in the NYC area--and there are a lot of us--let's think about getting together and holding a rally for Marshall Field's on the same day as JCPenney has its opening. We could be out in front of Macy's Herald Square and draw some of the attention of the media. They could see another reason why New Yorkers would boycott Macy's and shop JCPenney--because even here in New York we hate what Macy's did to Marshall Field's.
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 8:03 pm CT
And THAT is the kind of loyalty Marshall Field's continues to get from me. Even if macy's has something I want, they'll not get my money. However, I must say, the general quality and ambience of the former store is definitely gone now that it is Macy's.
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009 11:17 am CT Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009 9:34 pm CT
Many of my friends in cities often remark when they make plans to come to Chicago...
What makes the head of macy's think I would want to step foot in macy's in Chicago, when I have one back home...that I hate with a passion? Even if were a good store, why would I want to spend my time shopping there when I have a bunch of macy's back home? It would be similar to taking time to shop at a Chicago Kohl's, JCPenney, Wal-Mart or Target. (No offense to those stores.) It's just that the same merchandise is in the same macy's. Nothing special, nor of quality or uniqueness.
The decision to eliminate and destroy Marshall Field's will go down in the business history books as a classic case of how NOT to run a business.
Linda Piepho, the State Street manager of macy's store should be ashamed by how the State Street store has been disgraced by dirt, unkempt maintenance, bad smells, ghetto music, and the once fabulous display windows now appearing as unprofessional, done by elementary school children. (Sorry, kids.) Ms. Piepho's mother, a former longtime Field's associate would be embarrassed by her daughter's lack of good management and common business sense and respect for Field's.
Keep spreading the word, Field's Fans! The boycott is working. People have realized the folly of macy's "magic", causing shoppers to magically disappear on their own.
Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009 4:35 pm CT Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009 1:01 pm CT Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009 12:51 am CT
Petty? You betcha (as Sarah Palin might say). But fact remains, like Marshall Field's, the historic resonance far outweighs the current sponsor.
Let's hope true freedom reigns and Field's returns!
-DP
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009 2:47 pm CT
My friend is traveling to Europe and wanted a new pair of Levi's 505 jeans in a specific dark wash.
To my disappointment - he wanted to buy them at the red star store-
He went there and did not find the dark choice he wanted and the sales associate informed him that the wash and color he desired was " no longer made".
My friend ALMOST bought another version but then said he would think about it --(Whew!)
He went next to JCPenney. The sales associate Knew what he wanted and told him that his choice WAS available widely! Penney did not have his size- nor did Sears although Sears ALSO had what he wanted-- My friend found his size at Kohl's and purchased them there.
My friend bought his desired jeans that according to red star --
" were no longer made "
red star failed to satisfy yet another customer-- Thank Goodness
My friend said he'd never go back to Macy's for anything --
MUSIC to my ears!
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009 10:00 am CT
Hundreds of leaflets and buttons were distributed over about two hours under the great clock at State and Washington. It's very telling how many people still come to pose for photos in front of the Marshall Field and Company brass plaques.
Of all who commented on our efforts, only three disagreed with our cause--and two of them were Macy's employees.
Thanks again to all who helped make it possible. It's very clear--Chicago still want's its Marshall Field's!
Date: Friday, July 3, 2009 11:19 am CT
Only Walmart and Kmart scored lower than Macy's and Sears and Sam's Club tied with Macy's. Costco, Kohl's, Target and JCPenney came in ahead of Macy's in satisfaction.
You may recall a survey where Field's (a regional chain) ranked only second to Nordstrom (a national chain) in terms of a national survey of customer service. Macy's didn't even make the top five. ]
Date: Friday, July 3, 2009 10:50 am CT Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009 5:43pm CT Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009 2:42 pm CT
Back three years ago, the head of Macy's said that Macy's big, new leading push nationwide would be Martha Stewart, iPod vending Machines and FRANGO!
Where is Frango now?
Why didn't they do anything to promote them nationwide. There's only three or four kinds of Frangos left for sale at Macys.com
It's not that I want Frangos everywhere, it's just that it irks me that Macy's doesn't follow-through. They will say anything it seems.
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009 2:09 pm CT
The beginning has the story of Marshall Field's and food. Then there is this paragraph tacked on like an afterthought about Macy's. It probably was an afterthought.
Does anyone even hear from the Field's Culinary Council anymore??????
--A Field's Fan
Date:Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:34 pm CT
If Macy's had completely had its way, they would have also packed up the brass plaques, the great clocks--and maybe even the Tiffany Dome and the Walnut Room--and sent them to the Chicago History Musuem.
If Macy's really cared about Chicagoans, they would bring back Field's.
Date:Wednesday, July 1, 2009 4:34 pm CT
I don't have a problem with private label goods. Marshall Field's private label clothes were among the best.
However, Macy's private label clothes and other goods are not as nice, durable and attractive as those that Field's used to offer.
It's too bad for everyone--Macy's included--that Field's and its brands were deleted. We could have Marshall Field's and the Marshall Field's private label selections here, and Marshall Field's best private label goods should have been sold as a high-end house brand at Macy's elsewhere. Marshall Field's clothes could be a real brand at Macy's not made up like Alfani and Charter Club.
Sign me "Restless In Evanston" since I am restless for the return of Marshall Field's!
Date:Wednesday, July 1, 2009 7:59 am CT Date:Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:01 pm CT
Simply bring back Marshall Field's.
Mr. Lundgren really does not know Chicago and those of us who truly love this city and Marshall Fields. I will not step inside a Macys even for a peek!!!! Keep passing the word!!!
Thank you for the opportunity to speak out.
Date:Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:23 pm CT
I have lived in Chicago for a decade now and MF is the only department store I shop in. Macy's is so-everywhere. I lived in Minneapolis and still keep in touch with friends there. MF is also very important to them.
Date:Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:01 pm CT
The head of Macy's has the heart of an ogre. How else can one explain his turning the deaf ear to the MILLIONS who want Field's to return??????????
Date:Tuesday, June 30, 2009 7:59 am CT Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 10:23 pm CT Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 9:21 pm CT
It's good to see people take pride in our city.
Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 8:01 pm CT Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 4:44 pm CT Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 12:58 pm CT
Remember when Macy's claimed that Field's relied on too many coupon and sales in order to get business? Have you see Macy's ads lately? Every week is another "lowest prices of the season" and shopping coupons.
I'm getting a little tired of people who claim to have sales data for Macy's stores. Why not publish the data? Obviously, Macy's has something to hide.
First we had the Chevy ads on the State Street building...next came Clorox wipes in the display window. Look out world, here comes Macy's latest promotional partner: Q-TIPS. YES! Q-TIPS. (As noted in the recent discussion on Glamorama. Wowie, we are really going upscale now.
Noticed on 6/27/09: A family wearing Marshall Field t-shirts at the Cure Kid's Cancer walk at Six Flags Great America.Logo on front and "Field's volunteer" on the back.
Jimmy Gimbels has not and will not ever shop at Macy's. See you at Lord and Taylor. Amen.
Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 7:34 am CT Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 12:41 am CT
I only received complements and a lot of discussion about how everyone still want's Marshall Field's to come back.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 11:23 pm CT
It reminded me of the very first pickets back on that terrible day three years ago when Macy's got rid of Field's. Chicago would be happier and more profitable to Macy's if it brought back Marshall Field's.
Then again, given the chilly service at Bloomingdale's, I wish Field's would get new people to run it.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:56 pm CT
Your comments just prove that people who tell Field's Fans to "get a life" or support "real" causes have no idea who we really are. I am a staunch supporter of bringing back Marshall Field's. I also support children in Africa and India; I fund Greenpeace and PETA; my husband and I support all of the museums in Chicago, Lyric Opera, CSO...shall I go on? That's the case with most of us. You see we all have lives, it's just that Marshall Field's is also a big part of our lives. Just like we do with other causes, whatever they may be, we support and fight for what we believe in. And we will continue to fight to bring back Marshall Fields - because it's one of the many things we believe in.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:32 pm CT
Our 1500 buttons were passed out until all were gone.
We started out early but we ended bringing up the end of the parade--we stopped countless times by parade goers who asked to borrow our picket signs and pose for their photos.
Of the many thousands, pretty much every one was overwhelmingly supportive of the return of Field's--with the exception of one parade goer who pretty much stopped to fall over drunk.
The comments people had for Macy's ran the gamut with many expressing how it was an icon of pride in our city. More than a few brought up how Marshall Field's was many decades ago the first gay-friendly major workplace.
Thanks to all who participated and made the day a success for our cause and also made many Chicagoans happy.
On Friday, we will do it all over again when we leaflet and distribute some buttons on State Street before the Third of July fireworks. Email if you wish to assist.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 8:23 pm CT
Instead, Macy's wanted a situation where they could control the circumstances so they could optimize appearances for publicity's sake.
So Macy's got the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus to perform at State Street about 3-4 weeks ago at the beginning of Gay Pride Month.
Chicago booed Macy's out of the parade last year.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:43 pm CT
Did they really expect a hero's welcome? They killed one of the best things about Chicago.
Macy's GO HOME!
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:00 pm CT
Someone has since posted here, pointing out that these same former Field's stores were also pretty much the first to get rid of the regional management structure when they got rid of the Minneapolis headquaters, meaning they dumped a lot of staff that had not yet been dropped in many other regions of the country. The gist is that while Macy's suggests the profits are coming from local selection of merchandise as part of My Macy's, the real profits are just for now from getting rid of staff in the Great Lakes area.
Assuming that is correct, then profitability for former Field's stores is based on a reduced structure not in place at other stores until this year. As such, it would make it a sort of shell game, with other regions potentially being more profitable next year when they join the same stucture as the stores formerly run out of Minnesota.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 6:48 pm CT
Please, big shot, what are the numbers? What are the Chicago-area (leave the other stores out of this for argument's sake) Field's door numbers now as compared to before the store was changed and downgraded from Field's to Macy's, and provide the sales numbers as well.
It's odd that he would claim he even has such information considering Macy's very own CFO and CEO have publicly told investors that such information is not even kept, no?
And as for 'rioters,' perhaps David calls the many bystanders on the parade route who 'booed' the Macy's float to be 'rioters.' The handfull of anti-Macy's picketers were far outnumbered in numbers by bystanders booing the Macy's float. I was there at the parade last year. I saw it.
David, I'm sorry that you emotionally cannot bear the notion that a significant percentage of fellow gay and lesbian Chicagoans have rejected Macy's as vociferously as the rest of the population, but that's just the way it is. Gays are some of the most fussy shoppers out there -- we can tell a silk purse from a sow's ear a mile away. What do you think that Chicago gays think about your Alfani and Donald Trump Collection, your bar code scanners, lost salesmen, lost designer brands, your dirty stores, your clothes strewn all over the racks, your perpetual "sales", decimated shoe collections, ruined men's formal departments, your Marketplace fruit-fly infestations, your altering and cheapening the pot-pies in the Walnut Room, your cheap white plastic shopping bags? I could go on. Did I mention the Alfani?
David, most of our career Field's salesmen have long since left Macy's to work at other, better stores like Nordstrom, Von Maur, Carson's, Niemans and Lord & Taylor, when Federated offered buy-outs and commission cuts to the more experienced, commissioned Field's staff. I followed mine to Nordtroms. That's why most of Macy's staff today consists of teenage hourly help that doesn't know a collar stay from a hair pick.
Please David, before I close, perhaps you could further enthrall us with your deep knowledge of your employer. -- Why didn't they bother buying out you?
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:56 pm CT
Yesterday I visited the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills. This fairly new mall hosted the last new store opened by Kaufmann's. People were walking through the store but not many were carrying Red Star bags. The fine jewelry display cases were empty; perhaps the area will soon be restocked with Alfani and Charter Club costume jewelry. There were many, many racks of clearance merchandise; no wonder they have to ship stuff out to liquidators. Several racks were chock full of Steeler Super Bowl items because sports fans evidently bought these things elsewhere. The clothing looked like the garments sold at Target; nothing distinctive or unique. The home department was equivalent to Target or Wal*mart and most items were on sale with additional discounts available. JCPenney had nicer selections and assortments.
The LOUD Broadway show tune music was especially annoying. The music makes the ambiance of clearance racks and discount store quality merchandise feel even cheaper. macy*mart had about as much class and atmosphere as Sears Grand.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 2:12 pm CT
The Macy's parade float last year was a nothing but a giant Macy's logo on a flatbed trailer. Totally second rate, just like they treat Chicago.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:13 am CT
The only reason Macy's was there was to advertise.
Those protesting the destruction of Field's are there in the same spirit as the Pride Parade. Macy's is telling Chicago to like something they don't like and to supplant their identity with a fake mask. "Get Used to Macy's" is what Macy's says.
Field's supporters are there out of pride. Macy's was there out of commerce.
Shame on you David!
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009 5:11 pm CT
"Not one penny for Macy's til Marshall Field's is restored in Chicago"
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009 2:46 pm CT Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009 1:27 pm CT
Mother: Should we try Macy's?
Daughter: No, it would be a waste of time.
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009 12:18 pm CT
1) Two people each carrying a sign and passing out buttons along a a parade route is called "rioting"? That makes me question the accuracy and extend of exaggeration in the rest of your post.
2) Based on your exaggeration, I think you need to quantify what you (and Macy's) means by profitability. I attended the Macy's shareholder meeting in Cincinnati last month and asked Terry Lundgren how he could consider State Street profitable. He declined to be specific.
He offered no stats or figures.
If these stores were really profitable like you say they are, all that you, Terry Lundgren, Macy's, Inc would have to do to make us go away is present complete honesty and sales figures as Target did, including how they were arrived at. If what you say were true, then bring on the figures. That Macy's doesn't simply says it's not true or they would be crowing about it.
And they need to be accurate figures. Back in spring 2006, Terry Lundgren said that the vast majority of Chicagoans wouldn't care if Marshall Field's became Macy's without explaining the methodology of the survey nor who conducted it.
Since you know all these figures, I look forward to your presenting them.
Best wishes,
Date: Friday, June 26, 2009 9:14 pm CT Date: Friday, June 26, 2009 10:00 pm CT Date: Friday, June 26, 2009 4:20 pm CT
Thanks for posting that tribute from Andrew Patner...I had never seen that before, and really enjoyed reading it.
A few nights ago, I was fiddling around in the kitchen, and had the television on as background noise. I wasn't paying any attention to it until I heard an ad for Martha Stewart stuff. I tensed up, expecting a Macy's commercial. (Even the mere mention of their name raises my blood pressure). To my amusement, it wasn't Macy's--it was an ad spot for Big Lots! For those of you unfamiliar with this chain, Big Lots is a closeout retailer that buys overstock, discontinued items, and other stuff from retailers and manufacturers. Sort of a "last chance stop" for merchandise, one cut above a flea market. Apparently, this is Macy's new competition for their "exclusive designer" products. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.
To think that the former glorious Field's empire has been brought so far down-market that they share merchandise with a consolidator is truly pathetic.
Then last night, I met a friend for dinner in Woodfield. She arrived early and did some shopping before we met. She was complaining about having a hard time finding a specific item, and said she'd been to Nordstrom's and L&T. I knew she used to think my involvement in Field's Fans was kind of silly, so I innocently asked if she'd tried Macy's. She sighed, and said "you know, you were right about that place. It's an overpriced dump now. I walked through, and just kept on walking."
Even people that didn't hate them right away are beginning to see the light....
gayle
Date: Friday, June 26, 2009 10:10 am CT
Many in the community are absolutely thrilled they are not. No reason has been given. I have called the store on State Street and received the run around about it. But I, as a fourth generation Chicagoan, am thrilled they would not disgrace the parade with some trashy float decorated with Christmas red garland like they did last year.
They were two floats behind mine....and you better believe all those people got a mouthful of my famous temper when the floats were done at Diversey Harbor after the parade....
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:10 pm CT
In 2007, Gail Heriot led the charge in distributing buttons, bumper stickers, and leaflets on Broadway and Melrose, even though Macy's was not in the parade and she had to fly in from San Diego to do it. Last year, Daniel Harcourt led the way as buttons and leaflets were distributed along the parade route in advance of the Macy's float. (See our main home page for a photo of this.) Regardless if Macy's shows up with a float or not this year, some Field's supporters will work the crowd passing out buttons. Please email infoATfieldsfanschicagoDOTorg if you would like to assist.
Since 2006, lapel stickers and, more recently buttons, have been distributed out in front of the State Street store in the hours before the Third of July fireworks. Please email infoATfieldsfanschicagoDOTorg if you would like to assist.
In admiration and respect for all you do to help bring back Marshall Field's.
Jim
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:21 pm CT
In the case of the fireworks, Macy's started sponsoring this in 2006, but, of course, Macy's is known for it's 4th of July fireworks in NYC first.
While the likes of Jewel and Sears are in this year's pride parade, Macy's is not. Macy's has sponsored a show by one of the Chicago area's gay choruses including a preview performance in the State Street store earlier this month.
Glamorama is also benefitting a different charity, the very worthy Ronald McDonald House instead of the also-worthy Art Institute of Chicago.
To be certain, many events such as these have seen a significant drop in sponsors because of the recession. That can easily be seen in the greatly reduced number of sponsors logos in publicty for the Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Gay Pride Parade and Glamorama. One of Glamorama's sponsors is Q-Tips! I don't understand that one.
All aside, it's important to remember that today, in 2009, there is still such a groundswell of support for the return of Marshall Field's that if it were to return, profits would be up enough to help support these activities and business would be booming. The return of Field's would still be a huge success because everyone would be so happy to have it back! Not bringing back Field's in quality and service, as well as name, is simply bad business--bringing it back would be great business!
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:01 pm CT
One, the space being leased out at Nicollet Mall was for close to a century corporate offices used by Dayton Hudson--and not retail space. With Macy's North gone, there's no back office activities happening there. And that is a huge controversey in an of itself. But it's not a reduction in retail space.
At the same time, I understand what you mean. Back three years ago, part of what heightened my anger at Macy's and commitment to Field's were runors that Macy's was considering the reduction of actual sales floors at State Street, not too much unlike what happened with the Wanamaker's flagship when it became home to stores like Lord and Taylor. That store, similar in size to State Street--and also by architect Daniel Burnham-- was reduced down to about four or five floors of retail space, depending on how you look at it.
Now some of the positions that made way for the Nicollet Mall vacancies have been moved to State Street, thus, as I understand, filling up a floor. But there are still at least a couple of vacant floors on State Street, as I also understand. And the Wanamakers scenario still concerns me in terms of State Street. At the same time, I also believe that our collective efforts have slowed down anything like what happened at Wanamakers.
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009 5:25 pm CT
Read this and you'll ask yourself what's next for the State Street Store!
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009 4:24 pm CT
For the first time in its 107-year history the landmark building could have a tenant that's not connected to the department store.
By SUSAN FEYDER, Star Tribune
Macy's, which closed its Minneapolis division headquarters [i.e. formerly Dayton Hudson HQ, Marshall Field's HQ and Macy's North HQ], and last year, has hired a broker to lease a large chunk of space in its landmark building on the Nicollet Mall that also houses its downtown store.
Sharon Bateman, a spokesperson at Macy's headquarters in Cincinnati, said Thursday the retailer had hired Bloomington-based Welsh Companies to market space that had been used for offices of Macy's North.
[See full article for the rest including reader comments, a number of which are similar in sentiments to those of Chicagoans.]
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009 1:26 pm CT
I have always hated Macy's and with the demise of the Marshall Field's, I have no incentive to shop at Macy's. Our pleas fall on unhearing ears. They are all driven by the bottom line -- but stupidity is clouding their thinking. Bring back Field's and all of the Field's brands and reputation and I can assure the executives at Macy's that the bottom line will INCREASE! Why keep a store that Chicagoans depise. Wanna make money in these hard economic times, Macys? BRING BACK MARSHALL FIELD'S and THE BIG GREEN BAG!!!
Things DO NOT HAVE TO CHANGE !!!! BRING IT BACK!!! Just because this is 2009 doesn't mean we can't preserve a recognized, beloved store and brands. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO CHANGE! MARSHALL FIELDS IS CHICAGO !!! Marcy's doesn't care -- aren't they from New York?
Oh yeah, everything is better in the big apple. NOT !!!!!!
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 8:01 pm CT
Tell The Lady To Get Lost
Date: Monday, June 22, 2009 10:42 pm CT Date: Monday, June 22, 2009 8:57 pm CT
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31112847/?pg=10#TRAVEL_Concierge_NYCWhatNotToDo
"...The place typically looks like a merch-bomb just exploded all over the floor. The shoes, clothes, and housewares are similar to what you'll find at Macy's all over the countryC3except they're often on the floor instead of on a rack. Did you really come all this way to buy the same stuff they've got at home?"
Meanwhile, a visit to the former Filene's in Burlington, Vermont, included such sights as a walled-off furniture department (because allegedly Macy's doesn't sell furniture) and three tables of CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. Marked down, of course.
Date: Monday, June 22, 2009 4:20 pm CT
Macy's merhandise is often inferior and the sale coupons never seem to apply to anything I purchase (unlike Hecht's). Right after they took over Hechts, I had not received my Macy's bill one month and called and Macy's claimed that someone (with a male asian name) had called and requested an address change for my bill! I was outraged with their lack of procedures and what came out in my investigation was that this had never happened. A Macy's employee eventually admitted that it was a computer "glitch" on the part of Macy's and no one in fact had called in "pretending to be me.". Of course, this was after I had to put a fraud alert on my credit report due to their claim. When I wrote to a high level corporate official to complain, she was less than sympathetic in her response.
Date: Monday, June 22, 2009 7:11 am CT
Do Macy's Debt Levels Indicate Weakness?
Date: Sunday, June 21, 2009 9:50 pm CT
[If it was true, it sounds like they might want to rename it, "I'm a celebrity endorser for Macy's--get me out of my contract!" Of course, we hear from former Field's shoppers who want to get out of Macy's.]
Date: Sunday, June 21, 2009 3:23 pm CT
"Macy's to Open Two New California Stores"
I haven't been to California or Gottschalks, but it would be interesting to see how shoppers from that area respond.
In Chicago Messy's has had more than enough time for "give it a chance." Chicago customers really did not know what would happen with the name change from Marshall Field's in September, 2006. Some initial outrage was simply about the name and the idea of a Chicago identity being replaced. Some Chicagoans assumed the store would remain "high-class," but with a New York rather than a Chicago style. However, I don't think anybody expected it to downgrade into trendy, non-unique trash, with the building not even being well-maintained.
The name change is no longer something new. IT HAPPENED ALMOST 3 YEARS AGO. Messy's had their chance in Chicago whether Chicagoans gave it to them or not. This change was not a good change. It seems like 3 years is enough time. Chicago still says "I want my Marshall Field's."
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:34 pm CT
In Recession, Strategy Shifts for Big Chains
Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 11:23 am CT
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:36 am CT Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 6:01 pm CT
Regarding the My Macy's program, it's very important to keep in mind that there are two facets.
Macy's touts how they are offering customers customized merchandise selections specific to a region or a store. That's the hype and we are supposed to believe that it's going to generate all sorts of extra business for Macy's.
But there's another facet to My Macy's that isn't discussed. It's the dirty backside of it. The fact is that the replacement of the regional headquarters with some local buyers results in a net reduction in staffing and overhead.
So when Terry Lundgren suggests that the My Macy's pilot in former Marshall Field's stores was a huge success, it's not quite what you nor the analysts are thinking. It's not really that sales are hugely up because of a huge change in merchandise tailored to a local store. There's not much of that. What's really happening is that Macy's has saved money by sacking the former Macy's North/Dayton-Hudson headquarters staff in Minneapolis and replacing them with fewer buyers and managers spread out into areas like Macy's Chicago South and Macy's Chicago North.
It's all spin.
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:34 pm CT
As Macy's, the store is no longer special. We don't make the trip.
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:18 pm CT
I took my commitment to the return of Marshall Fields to the next level a couple of years ago when I purchased 1 share of Macy's-knowing that it would gain me access to the Macy's Annual Shareholder meeting. Not only did that 1 share allow me admittance to the Macy's Annual Shareholder meeting, it also guarantees me the RIGHT to speak at the meeting. I have to admit, it gives me great satisfaction to stand up and face Mr. Terry Lundgren-as well as the members of the board-and tell them that I want my Marshall Field's. Jim McKay and I have attended and spoken at the Macy's Annual Shareholder meeting the last two years-and we intend to continue to do so until Marshall Field's is restored. My 1 share has grown to more than 100-and I know that other Fieldsfans are watching Macy's stock- ticker symbol 'M'-for sharp drops in the price for opportunities to increase not only our ownership, but also our influence in the company. Ultimately, we may have to simply relieve Mr. Lundgren and the existing board of directors of their duties if they continue to stubbornly refuse to restore Marshall Field's.
I found drew's post interesting in that he apparently had the opportunity to visit the downtown Pittsburgh Macy's recently. I can imagine the excitement of Penguins fans with the recent win of the Stanley Cup. Admittedly I would have liked for the Blackhawks to have been the winners, but the Penguins certainly earned their victory this year and I offer congratulations on a well earned victory to all Penguins fans. I find the fact that Macy's wasn't prepared for this victory extremely disturbing-especially since Terry Lundgren specifically pointed out Pittsburgh in his presentation at the shareholders meeting. He was bragging about Macy's success in the Pittsburgh market with the incorporation of Betsy Ann Chocolates at the local Macy's stores. Mr. Lundgren led us-the shareholders-to believe that through the inclusion of Betsy Ann Chocolates, Pittsburgh locals just loved Macy's. Obviously he was overstating the facts. Jim and I just looked at each other in disbelief when Mr. Lundgren started bragging about Betsy Ann Chocolates. I don't think either of us have ever tasted Betsy Ann Chocolates, and no doubt they are delicious, but Macy's certainly hasn't realized the power of the Frango brand-not to mention the Marshall Field's brand-they already had. The fact that sales are 'way, way down' should send up red flags to someone at Macy's-if nothing else the Board of Directors should be questioning what's going on.
Speaking of the Macy's Board of Directors, Jim can verify that I called out Mr. Joseph A Pichler at the shareholder meeting. Mr. Pichler was Chairman and CEO of The Kroger Co. from 9/1990-6/2003. For those of you not familiar with Kroger's history, they busted their union in the late 1980's. I pointed out to Mr. Pichler that Kroger's may have been able to bust their union, but they need not think that they can bust their customers. We want our Marshall Field's. Since leaving the shareholder meeting, I have begun to sharply question exactly whose side the present board of directors represents. They are supposed to be looking out for the best interests of stockholders, but they appear to be more aligned with Mr. Lundgren. Mr. Mark Feldberg is Dean Emeritus and Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School at Columbia University. Here is a man who educates young minds at one of the most respected and recognized universities in the country, yet he is sitting on the board of Macy's-watching as Terry Lundgren drives the company into the ground. It is no secret in the business world that it is cheaper to keep an existing customer than it is to attract a new customer, yet Terry Lundgren literally threw away a very large and loyal base of Marshall Field's customers when he decided to ignore us by mothballing the Marshall Field's brand and replacing it with Macy's. I certainly hope that Mr. Feldberg has sharply questioned Mr. Lundgren's leadership, otherwise I have to seriously question the business education being received by Columbia Business School students. Macy's Board of Directors had better get down to business-meaning they had better start looking out for the stockholders.
I also found it rather interesting that at the very end of the shareholder meeting, Mr. Lundgren quickly suggested that the Macy's State Street store was one of the more 'profitable' stores in the area. I would absolutely LOVE to know how he was able to ascertain this when Macy's supposedly doesn't track 'individual store sales'. In his final words before the close of the meeting, he did the classic, 'Open mouth, insert foot'. Either Macy's does not track individual store sales, or they do-they clearly can't have it both ways.
The return of Marshall Field's is the right thing to do for Chicago, the customers-and the stockholders. It would certainly be cheaper than the countless 'Macy's One Day Sales' that we constantly hear about. I would much rather go to 'Field's Day's' once a quarter than to be forced to hear about sales I have no intentions of checking out. Jim can verify that during the Macy's annual shareholders meeting I announced while I was talking that I was wearing a new suit that I had purchased on sale-from Nordstrom's. Terry Lundgren just stared at me coldly-as he always does-but I'm sure deep down he was beyond furious. I don't HAVE to shop at Macy's or Bloomingdale's-and I won't. I want to shop at Marshall Field's and the sooner Macy's brings Marshall Field's back, the sooner I can start shopping there. Chicago wants it's Marshall Field's.
Daniel W. Harcourt II
Date: Monday, June 15, 2009 11:01 pm CT
This goes to show you people are not over the loss of Marshall Fields or the other stores in their regions...and it is 3 years later!
Date: Monday, June 15, 2009 6:12 pm CT
Then this weekend, I read one that really captured what Field's was all about and how Chicago feels about Field's.
"The Little Black Book of Chicago" by Margaret Littman really captures things saying something like, "Some Chicagoans are Cubs fans and others are White Sox fans, but all of Chicago is united in mourning the loss of Marshall Field's."
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009 4:40 pm CT
We want Marshall Field's back.
On our trips to Chicago we always bought from Marshall Field's. We are looking for the Marshall Field's Brands of liquor which was very smooth and reasonably priced.
Macy's is all over the United States and Marshall Field's is one of a kind. We didn't know that Marshall Field's was taken away by Macy's but we want it back.
We just wanted to let you know that the sales people at Marshall Field's greeted us with great Aloha every time we come to Chicago. Marshall Field's sales people were very informative and friendly. Macy's people are different.
If it is possible, could someone tell us how we can purchase the same Gin, Rum, Brandy and liquors that were sold under the Marshall Field's brand?
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009 3:47 pm CT
Nobody who goes into a store even thinks about the CEO.
People I talk to still wish we had Marshall Field's. I took some buttons and leaflets to a big neighborhood festival this weekend, and got the usual responses to my button--"I want my Marshall Field's too!" Several people told me they didn't even bother to check out Messy's after the name change, like if it wasn't Field's it wasn't worth it. And I overheard someone in a restaurant bragging that her first ancestor to the United States worked as a millinery/fashion designer for Marshall Field's. The reputation of quality product and service is what customers remember.
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:48 pm CT
I was at the downtown Pittsburgh macy*mart this afternoon and the store had ONE rack of white t-shirts with a plain black Stanley Cup imprint; the price was $25. (I later stopped at Kohl's which had Stanley Cup Championship t-shirts in black, white and tan with more detailed artwork--in addition to playoff and regular NHL merchandise.)
In speaking with a macy*mart salesperson, I was told the store had NO Penguin playoff merchandise and "they lost a ton of money when people came here looking for it." (So much for Mr Lunkhead's "localization" and "tailoring merchandise assortments" hoopla.) I mentioned many people really HATE macy*mart, the store is nothing special and there is much less selection and quality than Kaufmann's offered. The salesperson sighed and said, "We hear that all the time. This is the FOURTH division we've been under since the takeover. Maybe they will get it right THIS time."
The salesperson commented on the "designers" the store carries and said "customers don't want this stuff." I laughed and said "Tommy Hilfiger, Martha Stewart, Tasso Elbo and Donald Trump don't appeal to anybody I know." The salesperson said "the management realizes they made mistakes and they are trying to turn things around." I said, "probably too little, too late because people have moved on." The salesperson said sales "are way, way down" and the downtown store was always Kaufmann's sales leader. I replied "and it's taken them three years to figure out the store doesn't connect with shoppers?"
On the positive side, there is now a nice candy department and gourmet food selection on the Arcade level; the Arcade is a long hall that stretches the entire width of the store from Fifth Avenue to Forbes Avenue and connects two sections of the store. hey moved the FAO Schwarz selection to the Arcade where there is more foot traffic; perhaps they should have put it in a more visible location in the first place. The store WAS cleaner than the last time I visited, but there were many empty spaces on each floor. The display windows along Smithfield Street featured 1960s hippie-type, flower power dresses; the displays--like the rest of the store-- looked okay, but were nothing especially exciting.
Date: Friday, June 12, 2009 11:42 pm CT
I live in the Reno, Nevada area, but was born in Chicago, and still remember my mom taking me on shopping trips to Field's when I was very young (around six!), and still have some memories of the elegant old lady. I guess my strongest is of the restaurant with tables surrounding the second floor balcony. But I've seen Field's ads over the years, and have been well aware of Marshall Field's status in the retail world for a long time.
What makes the Macy's elimination of Field's so much more devastating than it could have been is the fact that the Macy's brand itself has deteriorated so much in recent years. I was working at the Reno Macy's when it opened ('78, I believe), and it was actually a good store, with a decent daytime restaurant and a considerable selection of high quality merchandise. Now, I don't even bother--it's not much more than a high-end Target that's become somewhat shabby around the edges at this point.
I wish you the best in your fight to revive the true Marshall Field's.
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:22 am CT
Marshall Field's must come back, America SHALL RISE AGAIN, BIGGER AND BETTERC
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:09 pm CT
What a waste of resources! What a loss to our city! What a loss to the owner of Macy's and Marshall Field's!
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 12:02 pm CT
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-tribune-0608-jun08,0,5886810.story
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/henryk-a-kowalczyk/the-perfect-test-that-the_b_153554.html
Date: Monday, June 8, 2009 12:49 pm CT
Date: Monday, June 8, 2009 6:22 am CT
While the newspapers may be reluctant these days to report on Macy's, be sure to help the return of Field's by explaining the differences and similarities between the renaming of the Sears Tower and the conversion of Marshall Field's into Macy's. Many would have the world believe both are just name changes but with Field's it was a conversion.
Thanks for keeping Marshall Field's in the public consciousness by posting blog responses, letters to the editor, and similar activities.
Date: Sunday, June 7, 2009 4:22 pm CT
Date: Sunday, June 7, 2009 7:23 am CT
Field's was a "must visit" destination before Macy's came along and killed it.
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009 10:19 pm CT
The salesperson suggested that I check JC Penney which had a wide selection of Pittsburgh Penguin clothing and collectibles. This particular macy*mart did have, however, several racks of Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl merchandise on clearance, 50 per cent off the lowest ticketed prices. A nearby Kohl's also had a decent selection of Pens merchandise for the entire family.
Evidently Three-headed Terry's highly publicized "my macy*s" scheme is yet another dismal failure. So much for tailoring store assortments to meet the preferences of their respective market. Stocking Penguins merchandise should have been a "no brainer" for a so-called department store in the Pittsburgh region.
Although I have many relatives in the Detroit area, they all absolutely DESPISE macy*mart for taking away Marshall Field's and refuse to shop there so I can't ask if those stores stocked any Red Wings merchandise. Somehow I suspect the Detroit macy*mart stores also failed to support their home town team.
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009 11:15 am CT
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009 10:53 am CT
For those of you still not finding quite the perfect gift for Dad during our boycott of macy's, you may want to glance through the offerings of VM either in one of their fine stores, or online. Von Maur offers completely free gift wrapping and free UPS/Fedex shipping to anywhere in the continental U.S.
While their famous Bavarian Mints are not offered online during the warm season, you may find these remarkably tasty chocolate treats in a Von Maur store.
Date: Friday, June 5, 2009 8:12 pm CT
More than a few news reports are giving percentages for Nordstrom, JCPenney, Saks, Sears, etc but practically no one is presenting stats for Macy's.
Depending on how you look at it, Macy's is the number one or number two department store chain in terms of size--yet they are left out.
A prime example is the New York Times which has a bar graph for the above retailers but, like last month, leaves out Macy's. Virtually none have a place to comment.
This HuffPost OpEd piece from last December goes out enough to suggest that Macy's wields power over the content of papers:
Date: Thursday, June 7, 2009 9:47 pm CT Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009 9:57 am CT
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009 9:49 am CT
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2009 8:32 pm CT Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2009 1:59 pm CT
When will shareholders admit the current management has arrogantly promoted an unsuccessful, haphazard misadventure and has demonstrated no ability to respond to consumer needs and wants? Mr Lunkhead has failed to connect with consumers and communities and to establish a place for his store in the marketplace.
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009 1:59 pm CT Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009 9:21 am CT
We have to feel sorry for our friend Terry.
With all the dough he's making he doesn't have a Marshall Field's to spend it in. He's forced to buy from Macy's.
Mitch
Date: Monday, June 1, 2009 10:50 am CT
Several 1991 photos of the old warehouse can be viewed at http://forgottenchicago.com/features/chicago-infrastructure/bridge-out-for-good/
Be certain to check out the photos of Both the Taylor Street and Polk Street bridges where you can see the former warehouse building.
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:50 pm CT
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009 10:50 am CT Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009 3:12 pm CT
Still, it was the number three destination and it is not that anymore. Far fewer people see it as a destination.
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009 10:56 am CT Date: Friday, May 29, 2009 4:20 pm CT
Cincinnati-based Macy's posted a loss of $88 million, or 21 cents per share, for the period ended May 2. That compares with a loss of $59 million, or 14 cents per share, a year earlier.
Revenues fell to $5.12 billion from $5.74 billion a year ago.
Me thinks a certain store is in a downward spiral. Of course, it is not Macy's fault. It is the ecomony, a late Easter, sun spots or ______ (fill in an excuse here).
Date: Friday, May 29, 2009 4:15 pm CT
MAY 29 RELEASE: Macy's Inc. will lose its FAO Schwarz outlets after Toys "R" Us acquires the toy retailer. The deal also means FAO will discontinue its agreement to open boutique locations in roughly 675 MacyC-s stores. MacyC-s Inc. and the toy maker entered into the deal in May 2008.
We all know what a big buzz macy;s tried to make about the toy section. Fact is, the selection was small and overpriced and really did not bring in much traffic.
Anyone still remember the "Take Me to State Street" promotion by Macy's? I didn't think so. It was an ad campaign that forgot to mention Macy's because store officials knew the very mention of the name turns off shoppers. Did the promo build traffic? No
Date: Friday, May 29, 2009 4:05 pm CT
On September 08, 2006, the Channel 5 Poll asked viewers:
Will you shop at the new Macy's store?
NO = 71%
Yes = 29%
Not one dime to Macy's in three years. How about you?
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009 7:49 pm CT
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009 4:43 pm CT Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009 4:40 pm CT
"FAO Schwarz will close in all Macy's stores in November" May 28, 2009 by Sandra Guy
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009 12:20 pm CT
On the Topix blog following the Tribune article noted below, I posted the following:
I think Toys "R" Us will do well with this acquisition if they are able to enhance the two flagship locations as international destinations. The best they could reinforce these stores as something special that people will again travel long distances for as they used or still do for American Girl. The worst they could do is make these glorified Toys "R" Us stores. I don't think that they will do that.
Regarding the FAO shops in Macy's, I think it makes sense for Toys "R" Us to pull out of Macy's and consider the possibility of similarly-sized FAO shops in certain Toys "R" Us stores.
As far as FAO shops in Macy's, I think it was more of an attempt at building hype for both brands rather than an actual success. Macy's claimed that it helped drive traffic to it's Childrens department on State Street. I visited one of the smaller FAO shops at Mid Rivers Mall in St Peter, MO recently and it was unimpressive. It was about the same size as, if not smaller than, the Hallmark card aisle in a Walgreens. I hardly see how its diminutive size could drive traffic, much less create an upscale toy-buying experience, for either brand.
What's more, Carson's, when it was on State Street, also tried the FAO Schwarz store within-a-store circa 2003. It apparently didn't help.
In both cases, this is probably because it wasn't a big enough experience.
All of this suggests something here for Chicago. We have ubiquitous toy store Toys "R" Us offering a couple of special flagship stores that are beyond the ordinary in the form of FAO--destination stores not run under or as the Toys "R" Us. Toys "R" Us will balance the need for economies of scale with the need for FAO Schwarz to have its own identity. This shows that Macy's, the now ubiquitous department store, could in similar fashion, bring back Marshall Field's in at least on State Street and have something special as a destination. This shows others (Toys "R" Us) think a special flagship can work even in this economy.
There is still a huge demand for the return of Marshall Field's. To support that, I further present that a poll of Michigan Avenue and State Street shoppers completed two weeks ago show a whopping 78% still prefer Marshall Field's over Macy's and also would shop a revived Field's on State Street. The results of this survey can be found at http://www.fieldsfanschicago.org
If Toys "R" Us can do well with a couple of special FAO flagship destinations, Macy's could also succeed with a return of Marshall Field's
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:45 am CT
>From the "Tribune:"
"Toys R Us buys troubled high-end toy store FAO Schwarz," May 28, 2009 by Mae Anderson, Associated Press
>From the "Sun-Times:"
"Tos R Us acquires FAO Schwarz" May 28, 2009 by Associated Press
Both articles have comment blogs.
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:13 pm CT Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 6:32 pm CT
My family and I can wear your buttons proudly to show our support for Marshall Field's.
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 10:06 am CT
"CEO pay: Shareholders yearning for a say
Momentum growing to give stockholders a voice on executive compensation" May 24, 2009 by Ameet Sachdev
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 9:56 am CT
Another book one should consider reading is "The Rain on Macy's Parade" by Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg (1996). This book covers the same territory but is presented as fact, but with much less of the behind-the-scenes, private life look that is central to Quinn's book.
"Macy's for Sale" by Isadore Barmash covers the period before either of these two books--circa the mid 1980s--explaining how Macy's went from being run by generations of the Straus family to being run by Finkelstein.
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 9:36 am CT
I thought the writing is good and the suspense keeps you interested. While some drama parts may be of more interest to the ladies than the gents, the aspect of a company employee starting a "white knight" campaign against the corrupt jerk trying to take over the company (and who would obviously mis-manage the company) does hit home about Field's Fans. Pehaps we have a "green knight" campaign.
Date: Monday, May 25, 2009 8:43 pm CT Date: Monday, May 25, 2009 11:56 am CT Date: Sunday, May 24, 2009 3:01 pm CT
While the closeout stores have their place, I think people would like something unique at times. Too much of the same has become boring. Traditional shopping malls have lost business as customers seek out new "lifestyle centers." Every mall is the same in every city and town. The regional department stores gave shoppers a sense of place while macy*mart is the same everywhere, despite Mr Lunkhead's latest sure-fire strategy to turn things around. There may be a few variations, but the stores remain nothing special.
As I put away my winter clothing and got out summer things, I shook my head as I looked at Field Gear items. Because I live in the Pittsburgh area, my Field Gear clothing was purchased online, through catalogues, or on rare visits to the store. I doubt that anything sold at macy*mart today will be of such high quality and style.
[Note from Jim McKay: Filene's Basement was recently purchased by another owner and then went into bankruptcy. In Chicago, the suburban stores were closed while the State Street and Michigan Avnue stores will continue to remain open.]
Date: Sunday, May 24, 2009 2:34 pm CT Date: Sunday, May 24, 2009 12:53 pm CT
Is the Marshall Field's font no longer on a box of Marshall Field's Frangos because they are different chocolates ?
The chocolates have always been delightful through the years and have a been so nice and tasty. Thank you
Date: Sunday, May 24, 2009 1:25 am CT
In fact, marketers spend millions to get people to view their brands emotionally. Why? That's the one thing you can't undersell.
Marshall Field's was the ultimate department store!
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009 3:00 pm CT
Author Darlene Quinn calls it "factional" because while some names have been changed, it's largely based on what resulted in the consolidation of Macy's and Federated circa the late 1980s and early 1990s. In fact, Ms. Quinn was part of the management team at Bullocks Wilshire, the very same store where Terry Lundgren rose through the ranks about the same time.
The book was the 2009 winner of the "Indie National Excellence Award".
This past Thursday, Ms. Quinn was on the WGN News show at Noon to discuss her book and explained how it has a deep connection with what has just happened with Marshall Field's here in Chicago. On air, Ms. Quinn and the interviewer even alluded to our activities here and how we were trying to bring back Field's.
Ms. Quinn hopes Field's supporters one and all will come to one of her appearances on the Chicago-leg of her book tour.
Ms. Quinn will discuss her book at the following times and locations:
But most of all, you should visit Ms. Quinn's websites, http://www.darlenequinn.net and http://darlenequinn.wordpress.com/
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:14 pm CT
The meeting was relatively low-key and procedural compared to last year. A big portion of what Terry Lundgren presented can be found, as noted earlier this week, at
http://www.macysinc.com/Investors/annualmeeting/. In addition, the Macy's 150 year commercial showing Bob Hope, Lucille Ball and Johnny Carson, among others, mentioning Macy's, was shown, framed by the fact that it had recently won a major award in Barcelona. Finally, a short film was shown where Macy's associates discussed the "My Macy's" program. Among those shown was Linda Piepho who oversees the State Street store.
After the meeting was adjourned, there was a comments and questions period. Shareholders Daniel Harcourt and myself addressed Mr. Lundgren, the board, and all in attendance on the topic of Marshall Field's. While no webcast or web transcripts exist for this portion, my comments were pretty close to the press release about the survey sent to all FieldsFansChicago.org newsletter subscribers and the media on Friday, May 15. I emphasized that this was a survey completed less than a week before and not three years earlier. I also referred to the 150th Anniversary commercial and the "My Macy's" presentation in pointing out that by disregarding Field's, Macy's was contradicting what the messages of the commercial and "My Macy's".
Daniel confronted Lundgren and the board with many of the concerns and critisms that Field's loyalists have posted here. I'll let Daniel describe it himself, but he covered ground from how he, like millions have others, has already told Macy's what he wants--Marshall Field's, how forcing Macy's on customers was akin to the spirit of union busting, and he even confronted Mr. Lundgren on the armoured Hummer that he has been reported in the media as having been provided by Macy's. Mr. Lundgren denied this, saying that there were many falsehoods about him in the media.
After a third shareholder, a Macy's employee from Arizona, spoke on a different topic, Mr. Lundgren addressed the comments, starting off by repeating his response to me from last year, that the switch from Field's was an "emotional topic." He went on to say that Macy's had responded by returning Frango production to Chicago when Field's previous owner had moved it away, that Chicago was one of it's best performing areas and that State Street was performing much better. I believe he said, "more profitable" but I could be wrong.
You are all thanked for being there in spirit and providing the support that enables us to carry on our quest. Thank you.
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:14 pm CT
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat-hartmarx-0523-may23,0,1199285.story
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1588221,CST-FIN-hartmarx23.article
Date: Friday, May 22, 2009 11:13 pm CT
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1586935,hartmarx-bidder-bankrupt-052209.article
http://chicagoist.com/2009/05/21/hartmarx_to_select_buyer_this_week.php
Sample comment:
Recent local media coverage avoids bringing up Macy's role in effectively hurting HartMarx and our local economy. Why? Could it be that Macy's is one of both the Sun-Times and the Tribune's biggest advertisers? Count the many full page ads in these papers in just the past week. (The Tribune had over a dozen full page ads in the past week for Macy's and its Bloomingdale's.)
WellsFargo (not a big advertiser in this market) is part of the problem, but Macy's is a huge part of HartMarx's problems too. Sadly our newspapers are too in debt and too beholden to advertisers to effectively present the whole Chicago story.
Safe to say that the switch from Marshall Field's to Macy's was NOT just a name change. Too bad the newspapers lack the integrity to report this.
Date: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:12 pm CT
How do some retailers remember those who gave their lives for our country? A matress sale. (Many, not just Macy's, are guilty of this.)
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009 6:13 pm CT Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:36 pm CT
I went back to visit and about had a heart-attack when it wasn't there anymore!!
Anyone with any childhood memories (worth keeping, ) remembers that giant Christmas tree!! Macy's tree is ugly.
Yea, I want Marshall Fields back!!
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:39 pm CT Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:04 am CT
1) Do you mean Marshall Field's or Marshall Field's/Daytons/Hudsons? When Macy's says Field's was losing money, it seems that they mean all three chains--and Daytons and Hudson's which were renamed Marshall Field's.
2) Also, while it might be argued that State Street by itself teetered between profitability and unprofitability in its last years, how do you account for the fact that State Street, as a flagship, actually generated profts at the other locations, as all good flaships do? The State Street experience inspires people to shop Oak Brook, Old Orchard, etc when they can't get down to State.
3) If it was a money losing proposition, how did Target manage to benefit by using Field's, Dayton's and Hudson's as the funding for its rapid expansion?
4) If Macy's has put millions of dollars into converting State Street and Chicago area Field's into Macy's. This has included millions in advertising to push Macy's on Chicago. Don't you think if even half that amount spent was spent on promoting Marshall Field's, Field's would be doing so much better than Macy's is now?
5) Most of all, people such as yourself who claim that Field's wasn't profitable consistently fail to discuss that Macy's is still less profitable than Field's was. If Macy's was more profitable than Field's on State, then Mr. Lundgren would be broadcasting all sorts of sales figures. That's not happening.
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:34 am CT Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:24 pm CT
Many thanks for your devotion to MF.
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:34 am CT
We wear the Field's Fans buttons when in Chicago!
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:01 am CT Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 5:09 pm CT
I wouldn't call Macy's regular stores "outlet stores", but it seems to me that the clearance bargains are one of the few things that do tempt some former Field's shoppers back into the stores that have been converted to Macy's. I occassionaly hear things like, "I hate Macy's but this was marked down so much they can't be making any money off of this." (Hey, the way to bring back Field's is to buy NOTHING at Macy's. I still refuse to buy no matter what the price--even some $4.95 1 lb of Frangos someone said I should make an exception for.)
While TJX, Nordstrom Rack and some others are doing pretty good, I also think these types of stores will have problems in the long run. Filene's Basement isn't doing so well. I've only been there a couplf of times in the past couple of years. I've left empty handed even though I had an immediate need for something going in. Moreover, TJMaxx/Marshall's/Home Goods/AJ Wright hype how they sell for less what department stores could not. Yet, as department stores get leaner in terms of what they carry and as some department stores go out of business, TJX will have less stock from which to draw from.
Seems to me that these clearance racks in Chicago-area Macy's are one of the few things that draw in anybody.
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:15 pm CT
Just this morning I was at a winery north of Houston speaking with the owner. She brought up the fact that she loved Foley's and was a devoted shopper since her childhood. We discussed how May Co. took them downmarket from what they were prior to being sold off (getting rid of the fur salon, personal shoppers, etc) and also how horrible the stores are now under the Macy's banner. She said it is pretty bad when her high school daughter and her friends hate macy's junior departments and the store in general. Mrs. Broch said that she moved to Dillards, along with her other friends, right after the takeover and will never shop Macy's.
Just goes to show you that the ill will towards Macy's continues on a nationwide basis.
Macy's "re-educated" shoppers alright. Right out their doors never to return. How in the world Macy's continues to keep all these stores open is beyond me. They have to be operating in the red in so many areas.
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 12:24 pm CT
"Remarks by Terry J. Lundgren Chairman, Presdient and Chief Executive Officer of Macy's, Inc. To the Annual Meeting of Shareholders May 15, 2009"
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 8:49 am CT
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 12:44 am CT Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 11:35 pm CT
Certainly if Marshall Field's were still in residence at 111 North State Street, it would have continued its leadership as a sponsor of the celebration. Field's did, after all, donate the land on which the Art Institute is built and donated the funds used to purchase the museum's original art collections. Marshall Field's descendants have continued this legacy of leadership and giving, donating substantial sums of money to the Art Institute over the decades. In fact, Marshall Field V serves as a current Trustee of the museum.
We heard many people comment to Target staffers and management about how upset they were about the loss of Marshall Field's and how much they appreciated the way in which Target invested in the impressive renovations of the State Street store ($115 million) and many other stores throughout the region, and the way in which Target build on Field's reputation for quality merchandise, service and philanthropic leadership. Some people were even aware that Target donates a full 10% of pre-tax profits to charities, an extraordinary amount and one of the highest of any corporation in America.
Yes, Target management expressed their own sadness over the impact the loss of Marshall Field's has had on Chicago and for selling Field's to the May Company, unaware that Federated (Macy's) would acquire the entire May Company and commandeer Marshall Field's stores. I wish there had been news media with cameras on hand to capture the moment!
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 3:00 pm CT
While the story pre-dates the stockholders meeting, there is a place to offer comments without registration. You, of course, can even discuss the survey findings which are quite germaine to the article.
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 1:22 pm CT
The only reason Field's isn't back yet is the same reason it went away in the first place-----Macy's head Terry Lundgren. Any other retailer would have brought back Marshall Field's long ago after realizing such a dramatic drop in profits. Of course, they would also have had the smarts not to make the change in the first place.
Field's will be back when Lundgren goes or circumstances such as a takeover or bankruptcy reorg requires Macy's to sell Field's to someone who will run it as Field's.
Mike R. Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 11:12 am CT Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 9:17 am CT
On another note, the FieldsFansChicago survey made its way onto a local radio news update this morning. On my way to work, I was channel surfing and by chance I heard about it on WIND. They even mentioned the name of this grassroots organization!
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 9:03 am CT
An especially interesting point: the article notes that macy*s was failing long BEFORE the current recession began. This fact has been conveniently ignored by many analysts. Maybe shareholders and analysts are FINALLY seeing through Lunkhead's deceptive accounting, failed initiatives and arrogant denial of reality.
Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 1:20 am CT Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009 7:23 pm CT Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009 6:55 pm CT
Does Terry Lundgren who is the CEO of Macy's still appear on Donald Trump's The Apprentice?
I gotta kick out of the joke I saw here some time back. It went, "Macy's may sell Donald Trump ties, but let's hope they never sell Donald Trump rugs!" HILARIOUS!
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009 4:20 pm CT
Shame on them for what they did to Marshall Field's. It's only a matter of time before it comes back.
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009 10:02 am CT
They are not.
If Macy's was actually doing well, or even OK, in the Chicago market, they would crow about their profits. Sales volume may be up but I'd lay big money on profits still being down from the days of Marshall Field's.
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 10:58 pm CT
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 8:37 pm CT
I pulled out the supplement to the Chicago Tribune from 1992 when the Dayton Hudson renovation of the State street Marshall Field's was completed and heralded.
It is so sad and disappointing to now look through those pages and it is a real reminder, in case any of you have forgotten, of how truly incredible the offerings at Marshall Field's really were! It reminded ME of things that I had forgotten that were available at Field's!
My how much has been lost.
It is thrilling though to look through those pages and see the advertisements and see the beautiful script logo at the bottom of the page.
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 5:56 pm CT
Please keep up the good work. Despite Lundgren's delusions, Macy's is now teetering towards bankruptcy. It can only sustain losses for so long before they run out of cash. Seeing how they are running out of financing options, this may be sooner rather than later.
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 2:36 pm CT Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 1:40 pm CT
Just an observation.
Darrid
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:30 pm CT
Thank-you to our hard-working shareholders who took time to travel to the meeting and represent Field's Fans, and those who voted and worked behind-the-scenes.
Hopefully there will should be more news coverage in the coming days, with comment blogs and letters to write.
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 10:09 am CT Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:01 am CT
Survey Says...Chicago Still Hates Macy's
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 11:53 pm CT
I took a few moments from my honeymoon in Venice to log on to the FieldsFans website and see how the stockholders meeting went. The survey results were certainly impressive, and even if Lundgren doesn't seem to get it, it must really rankle him that his grand scheme hasn't really won over anybody. In fact, I seem to remember that when Macy's first took over, 1/3 of all Chicagoans said they wanted the stores to remain Marshall Field's. Lundgren's take on this was, "Oh well, it's only one-third"(which seemed really really stupid). If this were a movie, they'd call it "Stupider and Stupiderer" because now it's three years later, and the very well conducted recent survey shows 70+ per cent vastly prefer Field's to Macy's. Sure, Lundgren can slough off the truth at a public meeting, but do you think when he looks in the mirror he's actually thinking, "Oh well, it's only 70%"? He must realize things are getting worse all the time. Maybe the really stupid ones are those who keep Lundgren in his job and paying him mega bucks to continue in his freefall. I can't help wondering what THOSE people think when THEY look in the mirror.
(By the way, I bought wedding clothes and travel clothes for this happiest of events, and none of it at Macy's. Local boutiques and Nordstrom get the lion's share of my business.)
Your friend in Field's,
Zelda
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 11:13 pm CT
Thank you keeping the memories and dream alive.
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 7:44 pm CT
Bring back Field's (or at least sell 111 N. State to someone). It's time!!!!
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 7:07 pm CT
For many years, I was in outside sales (cosmetics), and most of my customers were mid-level chain retailers such as JC Penney's, Sears, and Kohl's,located in malls throughout the Mid
west. During that time, I shopped at dozens of different Field's and Dayton-Hudson stores, as well as many of the other regional stores destroyed by Macy's. Each brand had its own pa
rticular character and feel, and I loved to visit them all. My customers' stores, on the other hand, were rather generic national brands.
Once I left sales and settled into an office, I got into the habit of stopping at Oak Brook Mall several times a week on my way home from work. I'd get a latte at the Starbucks insid
e Field's, then wander the store and the mall. I spent way too much money, but it was my decompression time between work and home. I'd always find some little treasure or trinket, an
d arrive home relaxed and happy.
Once Macy's came in, I hated going to Oak Brook. I still love the mall and the other wonderful retailers, but every time I see that damn red star on the formerly beautiful Field's bu
ilding it makes me sick. I find that I either avoid it altogether and shop at Carson's or Von Maur's in Yorktown, or else I park at Nordstrom's or Lord & Taylor and avoid the rest of
the mall.
Since Field's has gone, I've pretty much quit recreational shopping, or 'retail therapy.' I do a lot of shopping on the Internet now, or patronize retailers for a specific need. Of c
ourse, I'm saving a lot of money, but much of the joy is gone. I can't even articulate how the loss of one store had such a great impact on my buying habits, but it did. I know my hu
sband feels the same way.
The Macy's/Field's fiasco has also made me closely reexamine where I choose to spend my money. No retailer is without faults (although Field's came pretty darn close)but I am much mo
re careful about giving money to companies that operate in unethical or parasitic manner. I try to focus on companies that treat their employees well, their customers fairly, and the
ir communities with respect. Macy's, of course, fails in all three of these areas.
gayle
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 6:17 pm CT Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 6:15 pm CT
"You've been told what the Chicago community wants," said Chicagoan Daniel Harcourt. "I told you as a customer that I want Marshall Field's to remain."
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 3:57 pm CT
I applaud Chicagoans for the continued passion for restoring Fields. It is a shame the regions in the rest of the country, though their stores were not on the same level as Fields, did not clamour for restoration of their namesakes as well to the extent Chicago has.
Shopping is so very boring now. I remember in the 1980s when shopping involved so much more. The stores had personality, glamour, quality and selection. The stores were destinations and defined themselves as separate from the competition in service and merchandise. Now, we see the same thing everywhere.
I heard the chairman of Gottschalks (who recently began liquidation in California and the Pacific Northwest) indicate that 20 years ago there were 3000 regional department stores. Now there are 5 - Bon Ton, Belk, Dillards, Boscov's and Von Maur. I am not counting Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus since they are coast to coast.
Very, very sad.
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 2:41 pm CT
I haven't shopped at Macy's (Famour Barr) or Marshall Field's since Macy's took over. I won't set foot in their doors until Fields is Fields once again.
All of you keep up the good work.
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 1:58 pm CT Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 1:44 pm CT Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 1:36 pm CT Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 1:13 pm CT
A: Yes once, in 1969 when I lived in NYC. I bought a white pencil for drawing.
Q: Have you ever shopped at Macy's after it took over Marshall Fields, LS Ayres et al?
A: No. I am one of those who is brand loyal.
Q: Do you shop at Wal-Mart or Target?
A: Formerly I shopped at Target when I could use my Field's card until they dropped accpting the Field's cards at Target. I stopped shopping there too.
Q: Why don't you like Macy's as much as Marshall Field's?
A: The Red Star of Macy's and the Blue Star of Walmacy's remind me of the GUM store in the former Soviet Union. As we say down here, "six of one, half a dozen of another." They are all the same and they failed for the same reasons -- central planning not based on being able to see and touch the merchandise you want from a real sales clerk not a stock person.
Q: Anything else to add.
A: Did they hock the clock too?
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 1:02 pm CT
Like many others in Chicago, I was initially saddened by the loss of our much-loved Marshall Field name. However, I never expected that Macy's would take the stores so downmarket! State Street is the only one that I am near frequently, and it is shocking how poorly staffed, maintained, and merchandised the store is. As a long time Field's shopper, that store was where we shopped for ourselves and for gifts. Now there is so little of substance left.
I am a marketer by trade. I have a degree in marketing, and currently teach the subject. Macy's marketing plan is a textbook example of now not to do it!
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 12:25 pm CT
Out of curiosity, I did wander through the former State Street store and quickly left when memories of what was were poisoned by what now is.
There is no longer reason to venture up to the Sixth Floor for exceptional beddings and linens or seven or eight for furniture design that defines quality, function and style. It doesn't exist. If this was the "localization of macy's",clearly I needed to relocate. So I did.
I went to Nordstrom's and later Bloomingdale's (sorry). Nordstrom's provided the selection and service that reminded me of Field's; whereas the furniture selection at Bloomingdale's pales to the former Field's at least the store was clean and amply staffed. But what was striking at both stores was that ALL the service people who helped me commented on how much they missed Marshall Field's. Granted, four of the five conversations I prompted at check out by commenting how much I appreciated the good service that "it made me long for Marshall Field's", but once said all the sales people (and the Bloomie's ones were the most prolific)went on and on. I'm not going to mention specifics that will identify these employees as I don't trust Federated not to target them; however, it is worth noting that two had been representatives for exclusive lines that pulled out of State Street when it converted to macy's. Both left their companies knowing that without Marshall Field's the Chicago market was a lost cause. The Watertower macy's conversion was called a "train wreck" and the State Street conversion everything from "blasphamy" to "a tragedy".
So it goes...
With spring comes renewal and a sigh of hope. Hang in there Field's Fans! Chicago has not forgotten that which it lost, nor do I suspect it will anytime soon.
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 12:18 pm CT
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 9:52 am CT
A few things that stood out to me were:
Ms. Hoguet did not have ready answers for many of the questions, same as last year.
Mr. Lundgren walked in on page 15 of call and dashed off on page 22, saying he had to make a "big presentation" to dunhumby (their marketing consultant)in Cincinnati. In between that he bragged that Messy's is being locally responsive and also said, "We were better than just about all of our competitors for several quarters and on a two-year basis, we continue to be better than most that you are probably referring to." It's like as long as the competition is doing worse, he's happy. Somehow I think there should be more to a store than that.
I walked past the State Street store (that is supposed to be doing better than the competition) and noticed a "summer of love" theme with big peace signs in the windows.
I was around during the "summer of love." I remember we wore faded bell-bottom jeans (regular generic jeans) and tie-dyed T-shirts (that we learned to do in high school art class). We did not wear all that flashy designer-hippie gear on display in Messy's windows. There were no designer hippies.
WHAT A BUMMER, MACY'S! BRING BACK FIELD'S!
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009 9:51 am CT
I want to say something snarky about messy's ... but I really loved the boutique and the folks there. I wish them the best.
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009 10:04 pm CT
The simple facts: sales are down, shoppers DON'T WANT macy*s, the gimmicks aren't working, stock values continue to plummet, Terry Lundgren has too much power (President, CEO, Chairman), the corporation lacks any system of checks and balances, macy*s has failed to establish a niche in the marketplace, macy*s is poorly perceived (lack of quality, high prices, unresponsive to customers), there is NO sign of improvement in the months ahead.
Terry Lundgren has been a dismal failure as he totally miscalculated the value of the macy*s brand name. To write off millions of dollars of goodwill is solid proof of his stubborn refusal to admit his mistakes. He has SQUANDERED billions of shareholder dollars in the destruction of well-respected department stores.
The best course of action would be an immediate dismissal of Mr Lundgren and his entire management staff. Bring some MERCHANTS on board to run the corporation--executives who want to delight consumers with quality, selection and value. Restore Marshall Field's, Burdine's, Lazarus, Filene's, Kaufmann's, Foley's, Rich's and other regional department stores. Yes, there is a place for macy*s, but the value of the beloved New York icon has become diluted as its name is attached to a nationwide chain of generic, cookie cutter, uninspiring, unattractive imitations of Kohl's and JC Penney.
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009 7:14 pm CT
Let's Bring Back Field's Together. (still have NEVER stepped into a Midwest Macy's, NEVER!)
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009 4:18 pm CT
"Dow closes down 184 points" May 13, 2009
There is a comment blog that requires registration.
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009 3:02 pm CT
Kohl's has a clearly defined position in the market: mid-tier department store, brand name merchandise as well as decent house brands, very clean stores, good service, wide variety and selection, and no fine print "sales."
On the other hand, macy*mart has continued to "confuse" shoppers with discount store quality merchandise, high prices, ill-maintained facilities, coupons with numerous exclusions and dwindling merchandise offerings. The stores offer neither quality nor value; small wonder their sales continue to tank.
As Mr Lunkhead tries to cut his way to profitability, shoppers find fewer and fewer reasons to visit his minimally staffed, bland, generic stores. He has yet to realize that a New York name on a building stocked with Kmart caliber merchandise at Nordstrom prices isn't going to win anyone over.
BTW how long will macy*mart be able to claim "consolidation," "reorganization" or other such "costs" in their financial statements. A safe bet is the actual LOSSES are even worse than reported, but the continued adjustments for these costs attempts to hide the real truth. When will the Wall Street analysts call Mr Lunkhead to task for these adjustments?
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009 8:59 am CT
"Macy's F1Q09 (Qtr End 5/2/09) Earnings Call Transcript"
The "Tribune" has several articles on stocks and retail that mention Messy's. They will possibly be updated through out the day and upcoming days with separate comment blogs. "Tribune" comment blogs are free with no registration required.
Here today's "Tribune" offerings for May 14, 2009 so far:
"Wall Street opens modestly higher despite worse-than-expected unemployment report" May 14, 2009 by Stephen Bernard of Associates Press
"Discouraging signs put stock rally into reverse" May 14, 2009 From Tribune news services
Field's fans can also send letters to the editor at the "Tribune" at ctc-TribLetter@tribune.com.
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 5:30 pm CT
Think about what having Marshall Field's across State Street would mean for any prospective Block 37 tenants. Field's would have a great synergy with Block 37 stores.
Instead, the prospective Block 37 tenants look across the street at a plain old Macy's. The Macy's just does not create the draw to State Street the way that Marshall Field's can.
Bring back Marshall Field's. Bring Block 37 and the rest of State Street back to prosperity!
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 5:28 pm CT
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:55 am CT Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 9:12 am CT
This is from the "Seeking Alpha" website: "Earnings Preview: Macy's"
>From the "Tribune:"
"Macy's reports wider 1st-quarter loss as results are hurt by restructuring charges" May 13, 2009 by Anne D'Innocenzio of Associated Press
"US retail sales fall for second straight month in April, raising doubts about recovery" May 13, 2009 by Martin Crutsinger of Associated Press
>From the "Sun-Times:"
"Macy's reports wider 1st-quarter loss" May 13, 2009 by Associated Press
All these articles have free comment blogs. Please try to take a moment and say something, even if it's just a short "I still miss Field's--still don't like Macy's." The "Sun-Times" and "Seeking Alpha" have easy registration, and some Field's Fans already have passwords from previous comments. "Tribune" comments do not require registration.
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 8:42 am CT
"Earnings and Cash Flow Exceed Expectations; Net Loss is 21 Cents Per Diluted Share, 16 Cents Excluding Consolidation Costs"
>From their viewpoint, everything continues to be just great or going to be great.
The "Q1 2009 Macy's, Inc. Earnings Conference Call" is today at 10:30 a.m. ET
It can be accessed from the www.macysinc.com website at
Of interest is a customer comment link that has been added to the Messy's website. It is probably a good idea to fill it out even if you won't shop at Messy's. At least tell them WHY you won't shop at Messy's (from their viewpoint they still might not know).
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 2:00 pm CT
"Macy's Inc. expected to show 1st-qtr loss as it struggles with weak demand for clothing" May 11, 2009 by Associated Press
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 12:34 am CT
There is a Topix forum where you can leave comments.
Also show your support when you go by the Hart Schaffner & Marx plant on Touhy.
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:06 am CT
"Macy's Inc. expected to show 1st-qtr loss as it struggles with weak demand for clothing" May 11, 2009 by Associated Press
There is a comment blog to post, with free easy registration.
Date: Monday, May 11, 2009 8:34 am CT
The store looked so beautiful.
Last weekend, HBO broadcast the 1997 motion picture, "Baby's Day Out." The movie featured a 12 minute segment filmed inside - and outside- of the "perfect is almost every way" Marshall Field's on State Street. You can clearly see the wall plaques in many shots as well as scores of people carrying Marshall Field's bags. Look at the wonderful window displays. See how clean the building is. Other shots include a wonderful view of the towering atrium and a big, bright beuaitufl store filled with customers. Ah, it made me even more heart sick for Field's.
Field's - best store in the world!
Macy's...well...umm...err...best at nothing.
Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009 12:13 am CT
M A S is correct
Marshall Field's with the name and the bags and boxes but with
a "bloomingdales" as the insides would be sad and a VERY FAR cry from what Field's WAS.
look at what "bloomingdales" IS -- it is macy's with all the goofy macy brands and MORE EXPENSIVE prices, and a little bit of extra glitter with a sprinkling of better merchandise.
Marshall Field's MUST be restored in name, quality, style, and service.
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2009 6:57 pm CT
Then just a few minutes later I saw another shopper pulling what appeared to be a foldable heavy plastic shopping cart type bag with a wire frame and two wheels. It was in those multi shades of green stripes that Field's used for a while and it also had the Marshall Fields logo. I made eye contact and said, "I love your bag." She grinned and responded, "You're about the hundredth person who has complemented me on my Fields wheelie cart just today. One lady even offered to buy it from me, but I told her it was NOT for sale."
Regardless of Macy's big blunder at 111 N. State Street, Marshall Field's is obviously still very much alive and well in the hearts of Chicagoans.
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2009 4:34 pm CT Date: Friday, May 8, 2009 9:02 am CT
"Macy's and Whole Foods - Thesis Versus Fact"
There is comment blog that requires easy registration. Some Field's Fans already have a login from previous posts.
Date: Friday, May 8, 2009 9:01 am CT Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009 11:49 am CT
Chicago Tribune: Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009 12:02 pm CT
They should have kept Field's!
The Tribune has an op-ed piece on Hart Marx this morning. There's a place to comment;
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009 7:38 am CT
Even the current President's preferred suits are by Hartmarx. The company employs more than a 1,000 in Des Plaines and Rock Island. It now looks like it will be liquidated.
While the suit business has taken a huge hit from the economy and casual trends in work place dress, another big factor in Hartmarx's problems is the loss of Marshall Field's. When Macy's took over, they significantly dropped Hartmarx suits from the Field's and other May stores, replacing many with suits made outside the USA. When Obama was elected president, Macy's brought some Hartmarx selections back to State Street but it was too little, too late for Hartmarx.
So how can Macy's have said that hardly any Chicago area jobs would be lost when Field's became Macy's? Clearly that's not been the case.
The article is at http://www.suntimes.com/business/1562186,CST-FIN-hartmarx07.article. There is a place to comment but you need a simple login.
Newsradio 780 also had a story on this but I have yet to see an article on its website. Look for one and be sure to comment.
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 6:32 am CT Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 7:02 pm CT Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 2:37 pm CT
Sadly, as I left the Lake St. Red Line station, I saw that they finally changed the name on the pedway sign. :(
And I can't help but think of a few things...especially this:
Imagine someone from the east...my mother-in-law, for instance...comes to Chicago to visit her daughter and son-in-law. She spends a day downtown and see's a Macy's. "Oh, I don't need to go in there; we have those back home." Potential sale lost.
Now, just imagine if Voldemo--I mean, the guy in charge of Macy's--had been smart. Here comes said mother-in-law for a visit and spends a day downtown. "Ooh...Marshall Field's...I've heard a lot about that place; let me check it out. Hmm....they don't have this stuff at the mall back home...Frango Mints?? What the heck are those? Let me try those..." Anyway, you get the point. Potential sales! Meanwhile, she goes back to New Jersey eventually and goes shopping at Macy's at Monmouth Mall.
Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 1:53 pm CT
Indeed Macy's very publicly made a donation to the CHM back in 2006 and it will be on an ongoing relationship.
The arrangement was announced three years ago in April 2006. The Marshall Field's archives which were housed at State Street and exhibited on the seventh floor were turned over to the Chicago History Museum by Macy's when they took over Field's. I believe this was at the same press conference that Terry Lundgren introduced the short-lived moniker, "Macy's at State Street" and confirmed that the switch of the flagship was going to happen.
In exchange, the Chicago History Museum agreed to curate the seventh floor exhibition space. The primary space is between the Walnut Room and the visitors center with a great wall on the north side of the space featuring the photos which have always most fascinated me.
So if one is upset at the connection between the CHM and Macy's, consider that pretty much the only way for the CHM to get out of this is to return the entire collection to Macy's care. Terry Lundgren himself said that the archives would be turned over to the CHM since they would be much better curators. I personally think the arrangement for the Marshall Field and Company archives is the best that could be hoped for, given the circumstances.
BTW: Thanks to Jack, we were all alerted to the CHM's Marshall Field's couture lecture back two months ago. Aside from being a very interesting lecture, we were also able to stand in front of the CHM in the public right-of-way and distribute "I Want My Marshall Field's" and "Forever Marshall Field's" buttons to the majority of attendees. They were eagerly received and worn.
Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 1:24 pm CT
Talk about ironic -- the company that probably did more to turn State Street into a total retail wasteland -- hosts a Chicago History Museum exhibit on how the State became "That Great Street".
It would be interesting to see how much Macy donated to get this exhibit into their store.
(Has anyone seen it yet?--- Comments?)
I will be sending an email to the CHM to express my displeasure at the choice of location.
JACK
Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 1:13 pm CT
It was such a contrast to the empty, uncared-for building I now see on State Street.
In spite of economic reports, people WERE shopping at a well-maintained quality department store (with no stupid flamingos all over the place). I see no reason why people wouldn't flock to Marshall Field's the same way if Field's returned to State Street.
Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 1:03 pm CT
Yesterday, hubby and I stopped for lunch at an upscale Oak Brook restaurant--it's a pricey but occasional splurge for us. While we were eating, I happened to overhear a well-dressed man at the next table speaking to his wife. He asked her to let him know when Macy's had men's dress shirts on sale, because he wanted to pick up a few. She said "why don't we stop there after lunch?" He said "oh no, I'd never want to pay their full price for anything!" She laughed and said "Macy's *always* has stuff on sale--no one would ever pay full price there."
I'd personally rather go to Steinmart or TJMaxx to buy off price goods, but I thought it was telling to hear that even Macy's current customers consider it an off-price outlet. That's not really fair though--TJMaxx and Steinmart are much cleaner than Macy's, and have far superior service.
regards
Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 8:46 am CT
Great idea.
That is why I am brining my friends to the sale at Lord and Taylor. Anybody want to join me?
I have not done a Macy's walk-through for some time. So I was shocked last weekend to see the state of some of the suburban stores. First, it is quite obvious more staff has been cut - very few stations have sales help. At one location, I counted three associates for the entire lower level (housewares, mattress, luggage, gifts, linens and children's dept). Maintenace has really taken a back seat with broken escaltors, carpeted areas patched with duct tape, dirty walls, empty displays and shelves, and the exterior signage not functioning.
It is sad to see how these beautiful buildings are being trashed. I heard that areas of the State Street builidng are incredibly bad.
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2009 9:35 pm CT
Remember when the Field windows were closed and the "pardon our appearance" signs were out -- recently also there were vertical blinds in all the green shades of Fields (like the smaller sized bags)-- as a back drop -- remember how exciting it was -- you knew that when those window blinds were opened and pulled back that there would be something interesting or beautiful or inspiring -- or All 3!! now we get car posters and clorox wipes -- that kind of says it all ---does it not?
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2009 9:21 pm CT
The store was very nice and the building was nice -- it got a little goofy once it was cut up to be amenable to several store spaces-- Borders-Filenes-VS-- FAO Shwartz --It WOULD be a GREAT location for Carson's or Von Maur -- Carson's may not have the liquidity to be able to take advantage of it right now and even Von Maur might have trouble getting financing help for renovation etc. ----but it Would be TERRIFIC and a GREAT location for these retailers and for everyone else as another alternative to avoid the red star across the street.
Fortunately there is Nordstrom at Northbridge-- but Carson's or even Target would be a great low to mid price alternative choice.
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2009 5:34 pm CT
I remember two occassions circa 2003 when I went to Bloomingdale's expecting to purchase a requested gift. For me it was a combination of a lack of value (the quality did not match the price) and erratic presence of service. I walked out empty-handed and went elsewhere to make the purchase.
Beyond this, I believe another huge reason Macy's got rid of Field's was to reduce competition for Bloomingdale's. Back more than two years ago I would regularly hear this as a well-placed rumor, in addition to Macy's desire to take over the Field's locations and Lundgren's rumored dislike of Field's.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009 6:12 pm CT
So on those rare occasions that I am in the store and HAVE TO buy something at Macy's, I insist on buying from a manager. Then I tell them how much hubris they have to offer service and merchandise they say is on par with Marshall Field's but is clearly not.
I'm open to old retailers, even ones with the history and reputation of Marshall Field's, passing away and being replaced by something better. However, Macy's is not a worthy successor to Field's and Terry Lundgren is grossly egotistical and arrogant to pretend it is. If Macy's was better, the multitudes of critics and unhappy former customers would not appear. Macy's has totally messed up.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009 4:23 pm CT
Bloomingdale's is just Macy's with higher overpriced merchandise. Every time I've been in there, I've come out shocked at the icy associates.
Sure, they have some pricey stuff, but Bloomingdale's doesn't match Field's in so many ways. No. No. No.
Even the thought of Macy's Bloomingdale's division running Field's must stop.
Date: Friday, May 1, 2009 6:32 pm CT Date: Friday, May 1, 2009 11:07 am CT
It looks like the first floor wayfinding posts, originally installed by Marshall Field's, have been removed. Instead of putting new tiles were they were, the holes were filled with wood and taped down with brown duct tape. It's a really classy look.
The last thing I noticed before going up to 7 on State, was an entire bank of elevators was out of order. These are the "demon drop" elevators on the South Wabash side of the building. I had to use the North Wabash elevators which were also a little scary.
It's really sad to go into such a beautiful building that is obviously being neglected. You would have never seen anything like this at Marshall Field's.
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Posted by: Joanne in Southern Indiana
Posted by: Hello
Please keep me posted! I'm up for the cause!! I love Marshall Fields!!!
Posted by:
WDCB will have a story on Field's Fans tomorrow morning, Monday during the news. FM 90.9 in the western suburbs, College of DuPage radio.
Posted by: John D.
On this third year observance of the hostile takeover of Marshall Field's by macy's...
Posted by: Mike M
It was great to see everyone at the rally today. What a great group of people!
Posted by: Dianne Shanley
I am sorry that I missed the rally today, September 13 since I was at the first and second ones. I live most of the time down in Florida and have returned there early this year. It is hard to maintain the boycott since the Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores are very convenient to both my residences however, I have done so and will continue to do so.
Posted by: drew
Good wishes for great weather and a huge crowd for Sunday's rally. Here's something that may be a good sign for the cause.
Posted by: Susan
Gung ho!
Posted by: Peter
See you out on State Street tomorrow afternoon.
Posted by: Marie Kohler
My neighbor saw me wearing my Marshall Field's pin. I have to admit that I forgot that I had it on.
Posted by: Andrew
Best wishes for tomorrow's meeting on State Street.
Posted by: Daniel Spivak
I happen to be a psychologist and also hold an MBA, something that Pres/CEO/Chairman Terry Lundgren does not have, by the way. He holds only a bachelor's degree, with no advanced business degree. Does that explain some things that have gone on at macy's perhaps, especially without any checks-and-balances in poor decision-making?
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make leafleting a success on State Street this evening, especially "gle" and "Al".
Posted by: G.
The Tribune article has moved to its own link and was even indexed in the business category on ChicagoTribune.com.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-macys-marshall-field-chicago-sep11,0,6110175.story
Posted by: Gayle
Hi all,
Posted by: Ronald
I was in Houston for vacation and we went to the mall at Houston where have a MACY'S but I did not buy anything from that place! because it remind of MACY'S in Chicago and I still mad for change the name so I went to Dillard's that remind me of Marshall Field's in Chicago for a better store than MACY'S who lost my business in Chicago and Houston forever!
Posted by: JamesFromCa
I thought people would enjoy this short film about Chicago in 1948. They mention Field's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaMGqzkNwLY
Just in case the link doesn't work it's called Traveltalks-1948 Chicago the Beautiful.
Posted by:
Today's Chiago Tribune has a short story on FieldsFansChicago and this Sunday's rally. There is also a decent size photo of last year's rally. This is on the third page of the Business section in the home delivered version.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri-notebook-retail-sep11,0,7278284.story
The photo does not appear, but there is a place to offer comments. It's imperative that you post, even if you have to get a login. One comment is pretty off, talking about how
Field's is now owned by Canadians. So set the record straight--and be sure to include FieldsFansChicago.org in your post so that we get a link up for our rally info.
Posted by: G.W.
Expert Todd Wenninge discusses Macy's heavy leverage in his 9/9/09 article, "The Worst Stocks to Buy Today".
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2009/09/09/the-worst-stocks-to-buy-today.aspx?source=isesitlnk0000001&mrr=1.00
Posted by: Rich
To the rally and the Great, Once and Future Marshall Field's.
Posted by: gle
I'm so happy Field's Fans were able to hand out leaflets at the big Oprah event! And great to hear so many in that crowd were interested--it says a lot. Marshall Field's SHOULD still be a desination for people who love to attend events such as this, and hopefully the 2016 olympics.
Posted by: Zelda
Walking through the State Street store is a lot like visiting a former home that is now delapidated; yet there's enough of the ambience of the old place to refresh your memories. The architecture is still there, and the beautiful stained glass. One has to try and overlook the duct tape on the marble floor. (Did they think that white duct tape, rather than blue or brown, would be less noticeable? Puh-leeze!) The beautiful nostalgic memories are at constant war with the horrid displays (really! men's underwear the first thing many people see on entering the store!), the shoddy housekeeping (cracks, dust and duct tape), and the sad sales associates in black uniforms standing around talking to each other. We must, we must, we must get our wonderful icon back.
Posted by:
Wow! The print and paid on-line version of the New Yorker article is much more extensive than the abstract below in commenting about Marshall Field's and what it meant to Chicago!
Posted by: D.
Sunday it is!
Posted by: Jim
Crain's has an article about the impact Oprah had on Michigan Avenue business yesterday. I made a comment on how it also served as an ideal setting for spreading the word about our Sunday rally, as well as how events like Oprah, the 2016 Olympics and the return of Field's can boost Chicago's image as an international city.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35389
Posted by: Judy Marth
Well, another shopping adventure this weekend reminded me even more how much I miss MARSHALL FIELD'S! We were shopping for furniture. Remember the big showroom Field's had just west of Woodfield? We would have been there if was still Field's. Obviously, we had to pass right by because of the current name on the building.
Posted by: Jon C.
I see that the Chicago Reader has an item about our rally on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/EventSearch?narrowByDate=2009-09-13&eventSection=116961
P.S.
Posted by: David & Al
Page 48 of the newest "New Yorker" (dated September 14, 2009) has a fitting nod to Chicago and the sadness Chicago feels over the loss of Marshall Field's.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/14/090914fa_fact_marx
Here's to the once and future Marshall Field's!
Posted by: Jim
Thanks to Joe and "g" for their special work on Michigan Avenue at today's Oprah taping.
Posted by: Lisa
Macy's should never got rid of Marshall Field's. I will not shop there because ofthat.
Posted by: gle
The Edgewater Historical Musuem newsletter has info about the Field's rally this Sunday.
Posted by: Mary Ann
One thing I really miss about Field's is the fanastic windows whicch are quite common now. They now read like magazine ads with little "dimension" to them.
Posted by: Former Employee of Marshall Field's (YAY!) then macy*s (YUCK)
Drew mentioned that macy*s "charitable" Thanks for Sharing coupons are sold for $25, but only $10 actually goes to the charity. This is absolutely correct, and I know "where" the other $15 goes: "right into macy*s pocket, of course!" (direct quote from dept. manager). As is macy*s way, an "explanation" is given: the $15 is for "administrative fees." So there you have it. macy*s sucks.
Posted by: Pete
I like the posts about how Field's is like Apple stores. Great service and something I'm willing to spend money on because the product and service is so good.
Posted by: Sara, Houston
I am from Chicago and miss Marshall Field's. We always came to shop.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Joe will supervise distribution of our special leaflets near the Ohio and Michigan entrace to the Oprah show.
Posted by: Phillip Eichler
Great post today on retail worker. There's a thread about staff downsizing and one poster who works in a former Hudson's store always has something great to say.
http://www.retail-worker.com/forum/about11456.html
Scroll down to thepost by hudsmarshmacys and see their overview why Macy's doesn't like veteran employees.
Posted by: Matt
According to WikiAnswers!
Posted by: Jim McKay
We have special leaflets for the rally. We will be distributing these on State Street and elsewhere this week. On Tuesday, we are looking at possibly passing these out at the gates to the special Oprah taping on The Magnificent Mile at the Ohio Street entrance. More details tomorrow.
http://www.fieldsfanschicago.org/ffc090609leaflet.pdf
Posted by: Maryanne
Especially when I go down the escalator to the lower level floor of the flagship on State Street, I feel like I am entering a Target and not a Marshall Field's or any decent department store.
Posted by: Pete
Looking forward to attending the rally next weekend. Let's pray for good weather.
Posted by: mds
Drew,
Posted by: Patrick I.
I appreciate your efforts, as do tons of other people whom I know. There must be more than 200 people, where I work in the financial district, who wear "Field's Forever" pins!
Posted by: Marlene Z
I have run across quite a few middle-aged to older people who say they want to come to the rally on September 13th at 1:00 p.m., however they would feel more comfortable driving in or riding into downtown Chicago with someone who has participated in previous rallies to help them feel more comfortable with introductions.
Posted by: John D.
Who do you think is the Worst CEO, Field's Fans?
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31174332
You may also suggest a CEO for the next election by emailing:
madmoney@cnbc.com
Please consider exercising your right to vote.
Posted by: Linda R.
I'm believe "Jessica" may have been the one with whom I spoke when I called the President Lundgren's office at Macy's Headquarters. ("Mellisa" was not available.)
Posted by: Leslie Goddard
Seeking Your Marshall FieldC-s Memories!
Posted by: drew
Here's an interesting comparison between how two major retailers support community charities.
Posted by: gle
I am happy to see so many new as well as the familiar names appearing on this website. I always enjoy reading the posts in favor of Chicago's beloved Marshall Field's.
Posted by: drew
August sales at the Red Star are WORSE than expected and year to date sales have tanked:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Macys-Inc-SameStore-Sales-bw-3974456128.html?x=0&.v=1
Evidently the crucial "Back to School" sales were a big disappointment. How surprising Mr Lunkhead's prized teen demographic didn't rush into the Red Star and stock up on the "exclusive" Tommy Hilfiger fashions--after all, their parents highly supported the brand back in the 1980s. Kids want to dress like their peers; perhaps the teen fashion trend setters aren't into overpriced, discount store quality Alfani or American Ragz clothing.
Posted by: Martha M
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/11/24/pm_corner_office_lundgren_1/
I believe that Jessica L." works for Terry Lundgren. On that basis, I have to excuse her comments after the article that Mr. Lundren "is a brilliant CEO" and that she hates to see the negativity he receives. Her last remark that Terry Lundgren's "business decisions are made with the people in mind" is laughable.
Posted by: L. Grand
Bad News: macy's dares to project itself as the incumbent residents and innovators of the State Street store as one poster mentioned. The video is narrated by someone with less than a professional tone as well (no surprise there). The GOOD NEWS is that, according to macy's own video, CAMERAS ARE ALLOWED IN THE STORE! THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE NEGLECT (duct taped floors, broken door handles, broken escalators, tarnished plaques, clocks with the wrong time showing, and any other macy's funkification).
Posted by: David
It's such a pleasure to check out this site and find so many new names posting with fresh perspectives that echo that which I and others familiar to this site have been sharing (and grieving) since Marshall Field's demise in 2006.
Posted by: Jane Karen Phillips
ure am glad I'm not the only one that misses Field's! Our family history goes waaay back with the Field's name. My grandfather, Norbert Fleischer, owned the Congress Paper Box Company and one of his accounts was Marshall Field's. In fact, he designed the first Frango Mint box. We had one of those boxes safely put away in my grandmother's hutch cabinet. Until she moved in with my mother. Then, somehow, it got lost in the move. BUMMER. I do still have a photo of my grandfather's office and there are several Field's boxes in a showcase in front of his desk. So, at least we have that! Gram would take us to the Walnut Room at Christmas and my brother remembers going to see Aunt Holly and Uncle Mistletoe. Wonderful memories! Yes, I sure wish Field's was still around. That was a 5 star--no, make that 10 star---store!!!
Posted by: Garth
Chicago used to be distinctively different from other American cities. It had its own personality and attractiveness because of the institutions formed by the Field family. Now with the loss of Marshall Field's, it's just like "Any City USA". Marshall Field's brought people to Chicago because it was special and unique in so many ways. Internationally, Marshall Field's had a reputation for high fashion flair. Macy's is just a mass-merchandising retailer of cheaply made house brands.
Posted by: Susan
Hah! It occurred to me- do you suppose the Macyfolk said to themselves around the board table a few years ago, "It'll be like taking candy from a baby!- Watch them squeal!"? If so, it worked. They got the candy away from us and we're squealing. But one has to ask why they would take the candy away when the candy was the point- it made money!!
Posted by: gayle
What a weekend I had! I haven't much enjoyed shopping since the Only Store That Really Mattered was desecrated. However, I was desperately in need of a new purse. I can barely stand to go near Oak Brook now, so I headed over to Yorktown instead.
Posted by: Violet
There never has been, nor ever will be a department store as complete, truly exciting, and pleasant-uplifting to shop in than Marshall Field's! I miss it so much. I think it's terrible how Mr. Lundgren destroyed a national and international icon. I've always considered myself a polite lady, and never have wished ill on anyone in my life, but I pray to God he goes to H*ll when his life has ended. Certainly Chicago will not be grieving, but rejoicing. Maybe if not by then, Chicago will have its Marshall Field's back. I can't wait much longer. I'm 87!
Posted by: Wil
I have moved back to Chicago and now I am wearing your Marshall Field's pins every day. I commend all of you for what you are doing to being back Field's.
Posted by: Pat
My husband found your site- he knows how much I miss my Marshall Fields. I grew up in Chicago and many of my best childhood memories are of shopping with my mother at Marshall Fields. I won't shop at the Macy's here in Kansas City because I am still angry at them for changing the name, not to mention all the service that went with that name! If
Posted by: RJ in Michigan
My wife and two girls already planned to be in Chicago on the 13th and now we will also be at the rally on State. We miss Hudson's here too, but Marshall Field's was the golden ring.
Posted by: R T, Naperville
Hi, I am so excited that you are working to restore Marshall Fields back to State Street! I have personally hated this change since it's arrival! Thank you for your efforts to preserve this icon.
Posted by: gle
There is an exhibit on Chicago architect, Daniel Burnham on the 3rd floor of the Harold Washington Library downtown. Along with a nice assortment of photos, documents, etc. has a short video that mentions Macy's on State, the former Marshall Field's flagship store, as one of Burnham's creations. It also mentions involvement of Marshall Field I in the implementation of Burnham's 1909 "Plan of Chicago." Anyone interested in learning about Burhham, and seeing more evidence that Marshall Field's has always been more than just a store, might want to view this exhibit. Messy's hasn't bothered to commemorate its landmark Burnham building anyplace in the State Street store that I can find. And when I asked at the first-floor information desk, all the person knew was to hand me a flyer on the Burnham centenniel from her pile of general tourist information.
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
From the Macy's way back machine:
Posted by: Gabriel Madrid
The Macy's Herald Square store is now officially no longer the world's largest store according to the Guinness Book of World Records. A brand new store in Busan, South Korea called the "Shinsengae Centumcity Department Store" is now recognized as the new largest store in the world at 3,163,567 square feet. This beats the RH Macy and Company Store of New York by at least a million square feet. The South Koreans have now outdone Macy's. I wonder when and if ever the "Macy's World's Largest Store" sign will be changed or taken down. It has been there in many incarnations since 1924.
Posted by: Craig S
Recently I made a visit to a retailer located next to Macy's at a Chicagoland regional mall mid-week. I parked in front of Macy's -- not a problem -- and walked through the store to get inside the mall. What struck me while I stolled down the center aisle of the store was all of the fugly merchandise on display. Naturally a retailer would want to display their best merchandise along the aisles to draw customers further into the store. I thought to myself, "If this is the best that Macy's has to offer as far as the eye can quickly see, bet the rest is just pure fugliness."
Posted by: Andrew
Mr. Lundgren's logic and reasoning just does not make sense.
Posted by: Nick and Brenda J.
If Marshall Field's were to return as a result of a new steward buying and respecting the name, culture, service and merchandising, there would be REAL EXCITEMENT and "real dancing in the streets"! Marshall Field's would be packed to the walls from then on, regardless of the economy. Let us tell you---there would be so much excitement if Field's were to be brought back in all its aspects that made it a retail and cultural icon and world-class destination! Bring back Field's now! People from all over creation would be flocking to Chicago to spend a day at Field's and to visit museums, dine at restaurants and stay at Chicago's hotels. What a boom to the Chicago economy---a real Stimulus! Marshall Field's, you are Chicago!
Posted by: drew
What an "exciting" and informative video!
http://www.visitmacyschicago.com/visitors/video.cfm?type=historical
Most people wouldn't realize that the Red Star has had such a long and distinguished history in Chicago. Especially impressive is the unique architecture of the Red Star building which they specifically designed and maintained. No doubt tourists will want to view the "archive of macy*s history" to fully appreciate the many contributions the Red Star has made to Chicago's history in "over 150 years" of retailing excellence.
Posted by: Jim McKay
From Facebook:
Just wanted to let you know that I am still honoring the boycott and have not bought anything at either Macy's or Bloomingdale's since September 2006. I just wonder though when I see shoppers with Macy's bags if the management of Macy's realizes that hundreds and maybe thousands of people are boycotting their store since people, probably a lot of them tourists, still continue to buy things there. Do we have any concrete evidence that the Macy's management team is ever going to give us back our beloved store?
Response:
Posted by: Jim McKay
Crains Chicago Business has a feature on efforts to invigorate Chicago's fashion industry.
Please add your own comments if you have a Crains login -- or at least recommend the comments that you agree with. And remember--whenver you post at Crain's, you can click the vote to recommend your own post.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?article_id=32320&seenIt=1
I have responded:
There's been one Chicago name that has had enormous international cachet in the fashion industry for generations and was by far its best known. Marshall Field's was the fashion name associated world-wide with our city and for years it was synonymous with Chicago at its best. To be sure, in recent years, new owners of Field's didn't do the brand justice, but a worthy steward could easily bring back to the forefront both the brand and Chicago .
Posted by: Tammy
Thank you for all your efforts.
Posted by: Janice D.
Remember the macy official's incorrect prediction in September of 2006 when macy's hostile take-over of Field's happened?
Posted by: Sharon Evans
I have attended previous Field's rallies. Looking forward to this one. After each previous event, I was glad I took the time to go. Amongst the anguish at seeing macy's black as a back-drop behind us, we do share laughs with one another along the way. You meet some of the nicest people in the world at "111 North State" for our cause. They were, afterall, loyal Marshall Field's shoppers! The common bond we shared was heart-warming and continues still.
Posted by: Brian
For those of you who do live in Chicago the city. There is a little shop on the ground floor of the dakota building which is called "Liquidations Direct". It seemed as if almost every single item on the racks had a macy's clearance tag on it, or a macys return sticker.
Posted by: JMG
I was in Chicago for a week for a convention and visited the store, much to my amazement I found they were selling some Frango that was still being packaged with a Marshall Fields logo on it . . . While I was there I encountered a gentleman that has been there since I first started going to Chicago in 1972 as a kid.
Posted by: Ethan
I'm 31, and I have loved Marshall Field's my entire life since age 4. Among many things I loved about Marshall Field's was the cross-generational interaction among customers and employees. It always amazed me how I could be shopping alongside an 82-year old lady, and a young mother at another counter who was with a young child, and a 50-something as well, and a teen-ager closeby. I also liked the wide variety of ages among sales associates, all of whom were knowledgable and practiced the Field's culture of fine service and salesmanship and neighborly human being. People of all ages exchanged pleasantriesin the classy, but comfortable surrounding. I always found the deep forest green color to be soothing, classy and sophisticated. There are so many things I miss about Field's, but I am still in wonderment about how it was the place where people of all possible ages interacted in varying degrees. You don't find environments offering something like that any more. Field's was special to everybody! It was more than just a store, Mr. Lundgren---a whole lot more!
Posted by: Jan
People will always love Marshall Field's!
Posted by: Jon C.
A few remarks by retail experts and by Field's Fans in September 2007...
Posted by: Robert N.
How true...still!
Posted by: PC
I was visiting Chicago last week and went into MF on State and was so disappointed at how bleak and ordinary it seemed.
Posted by: Rich
The red star store at 34th street in Manhatten has ALL the same boring crappy merchandise that all the other red star stores have -- The 34th street store has a COMPLETE selection-- ie ALL possible choices produced for "INC" "Alfani" "Style & Co." etc, etc --- of ALL the brands of red star and LOTS of it. That store has all the "bridge" lines that red star carries too
Posted by: Mike W, NE Indiana
I too miss our local Marshall Field's. I seldom shop at Macy's here. I definitely miss the State Street store. It's no longer a stopping point when i visit Chicago!
Posted by: Susan G.
There is something about Field's- it seems, at least to my prejudice, to be where high and some low come together and have a common experience of unique wonderfulness like in a giant toy shop- it goes beyond appreciating the abstractions of High Art. Which would make a lot of High Art folks sniff. But it is so. Is it about being a Temple of Commerce? Sure. Does it replace religion? No. But it seems to be one of the few places where humans have managed to pull off an enterprise really well, top notch. So it is (was) a precious bit of humans scintillating for a few minutes. I keep coming to view it on a quasi-religious level because I think it comes down to that, that is what gave it its power. Lacking that- you get Macy's. Or Wieboldt's - shudder. Big but so what.
Posted by: John in LaGrange
I listened to the Chicagoist Podcast.
Posted by: gle
I was happy to hear the interview with FieldsFans and the group pushing for the Sears Tower name over Wills from the "Chicagoist.com" podcast. It looks like we got some really important points aired that don't always show up in other media sources.
Posted by: gle
Macysinc.com website announces another "star:"
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1322374&highlight=
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/style/la-ig-list23-2009aug23,0,4103509.story
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/people/1727700,CST-FTR-piggy21.article
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1323210&highlight=
Posted by: Ann, Warrenville
I will be out there three weeks from today.
Posted by: John D
Please tell just ONE other person each new day, wherever you live, about boycott against macy's and bloomingdale's nationwide. (Fellow students, neighbors, co-w
orkers, teachers, family members, your dentist and doctor's staffs, your fellow commuters...whomever you meet.
Posted by: John D
Consumerist.com has dozens of macy-related articles, all less than flattering, with comments indexed on two pages.
http://consumerist.com/tag/macys/
Posted by: Gail F.
I grew up in La Grange and we also met at Marshall Field's under the clock.
Posted by: Brittany
I could always find perfectly exciting things to buy at Marshall Field's. I would always go to Field's for my back-to-school wardrobes for my recent college years. I was always the envy of my out-of-state college sorority because Field's apparel was not your typical same-same clothing as all other stores in the U.S. Frequently, I'd be asked..."Where in the world did you get that darling outfit?" I was proud to say, "At Marshall Field's in Chicago, of course!"
Posted by: Gabby
I grew up in Chicago and now live in Europe. Marshall Field's was always a very special store and landmark for me. During the holiday season my mom would take us kids downtown and we loved the beautifully decorated Christmas windows. Visiting Chicago - without going to Marshall Field's is very sad. There's definately something missing. Please bring Marshall Field's back to the Windy City.
Posted by: David
I liked the newsletter.
Posted by: Kevin
So glad to see the Marshall Field's rallies are still going. Don't EVER stop!
Posted by: Ashley
Marshall Field's FOREVER!
Posted by: Joy
Yes, I will be there on Sept. 13.
Posted by: Gail
Thanks, Zelda. As you suggested, I watched the trailer for "The Time Traveler's Wife" and saw the little girl running with her Marshall Field's bag. It made my happy.
Posted by: Pat
Keep standing up for our Field's!
Posted by: Lee
It's shocking that Macy's has totally ignored the history of the State Street store during the Burnham Plab Centennial celebration.
Posted by: Dianne S.
Just wanted to let you know that I am still honoring the boycott and have not bought anything at either Macy's or Bloomingdale's since September 2006. I just wonder if the management of Macy's realizes that hundreds and maybe thousands of people are boycotting their store since people. For every Macy's bag they see, they could have three or four Marshall Field's bags instead.
Posted by: John
It was bad enough what Macy's did to Burdine's here in Fla., but after what they did to Marshall Field's I will not even set foot in a Macy's store.o
Posted by: Cheryl
I'd rather get a new Marshall Field's sales catalogue, but the Field's Fans newsletter I just received is about as good as it gets.
Posted by: FieldsFansChicago.org
-------------------------------------------------------
FieldsFansChicago.org
Newsletter Number 19
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------
In This
Newsletter...
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,
2009
1:00 PM
Under the Marshall Field's Great Clock at
STATE & WASHINGTON STREETS
RALLY FOR MARSHALL FIELD'S, RALLY FOR CHICAGO
We're
asking for just an hour of your time
to
stand up for our beloved international city and
also
help bring back the institution that brought us 154 great
years
Be
There For Marshall Field's!
Be
There For Chicago!
-----------------------
FREE "CITY of CHICAGO" FLAGS &
"I
WANT MY MARSHALL FIELD'S" BUTTONS
for
RALLY PARTICIPANTS
-----------------------
"Must Listening"
SPECIAL PODCAST FEATURING FieldsFansChicago.org
-----------------------
Our
Recent Survey on State St. & Michigan Ave.:
78%
PREFER MARSHALL FIELD'S
-----------------------
Other
topics in this Newsletter
* STAY IN TOUCH VIA THE FieldsFansChicago.org
BLOG
* JOIN OUR NEW GROUP on FACEBOOK
* FOLLOW US on TWITTER
*
DO YOU WISH TO SPONSOR OUR ACTIVITIES?
*
SPECIAL REGARDS
*
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE & UNSUBSCRIBE; MORE...
-------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE HELP BY FORWARDING THIS NEWSLETTER ON
TO
ALL POTENTIALLY INTERESTED FRIENDS & FAMILY.
-------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,
2009
1:00 PM
Under the Marshall Field's Great Clock at
STATE & WASHINGTON STREETS
RALLY FOR MARSHALL FIELD'S, RALLY FOR CHICAGO
We're
asking for just an hour of your time
to
stand up for our beloved international city and
also
help bring back the institution that brought us 154 great
years
BE
THERE FOR MARSHALL FIELD'S!
BE
THERE FOR CHICAGO!
-----------------------
In the coming weeks, we mark three years
since Chicago's Chicago's international retail, fashion,
cultural, historical, architectural and culinary icon, Marshall
Field's, was converted to another Macy's store.
While something was lost--at least
temporarily--on that sad day in Chicago history, something was also
ignited--a heightened sense of civic pride in our great, international
city, Chicago, and a sense of service and involvement in our
community.
That heightened pride has spread to other
movements--some of which you may or may not support--as those who have
partaken in the activities of ItsTheSearsTower.com, KeepItWrigley.org,
SaveGrantPark.org, and others have all cited the activities of
FieldsFansChicago.org as a source of inspiration.
Others have written saying that
participating in a rally for Marshall Field's was the first time you
have ever done something like that. As a result, you have since
been motivated to take a more active role in local or national
politics (especially during the 2008 campaign season) or have expanded
your volunteer activities to help the poor, those with disabilities,
local schools and libraries, community preservation efforts, and those
who quite simply are struggling and are less fortunate.
Considering all that, we have already
had success. What was started by us all on State Street three
years ago was the beginning of something much bigger and more diverse
than was thought of at the time.
But still, we return to the original reason
we all came together 36 months ago: pride in Chicago and love
for perhaps its greatest institution and icon, Marshall
Field's.
So . . . there are those who may ask if
it's possible: Can Marshall Field's come back? How are we making a
difference?
The answer is YES!
Consider that there are those--more than a few--who say had we
not continued our efforts, the State Street store would have fallen
into a steep and quick decline. Instead we have challenged
Macy's to attempt to match the apex, Marshall Field's.
Consider that an overwhelming 78% of over
500 recently surveyed State Street and Michigan Avenue shoppers said
that they STILL want Marshall Field's over Macy's and would shop at
State Street and other locations if Field's was restored in service,
style and name. Your active participation in
FieldsFansChicago.org activities means that people still have a voice
in declaring that Field's can and should come back.
Consider that interest in
FieldsFansChicago.org has spiked and has been sustained, especially
after the renaming of the Sears Tower last month with more than a few
news stories covering how Chicago still wants its Marshall Field's.
Regardless of your position on the re-naming of the Sears Tower or
Wrigley Field or building in Grant Park or the corporate acquisitions
of other Chicago-area businesses, know that all you have done for the
return of Marshall Field's has inspired others to also stand up for
their piece of Chicago history.
Consider that in this climate, large
corporations can change again. For example, regardless of how
you feel about the past year's changes at the Chicago Tribune,
the fact is that it will soon have a new owner yet again for the
second time in two years. Anything can happen in corporate
America. What seemed like a good idea two or three years ago can
suddenly change.
Consider that after three years and many
millions of dollars spent, Macy's has yet to prove itself a success at
State Street.
Consider that while the economy is
struggling, people are making exceptions and still standing in line
for hours to spend their for must-have, out-of-the-ordinary items or
experiences. Just a few examples include the likes of the newest
Apple iPhone, Chevy Camarro or special performances and concerts like
the first Chicago Symphony Concerts conducted by Riccardo Muti or even
Elton John and Billy Joel or Miley Cyrus.
Consider what "Zelda" wrote in
our last newsletter:
We hope that you will be able to give
just an hour of your time on Sunday afternoon, September 13, 2009 at
1:00 pm, to join us on State Street in rallying for our great
institution, Marshall Field's, and our great city,
Chicago.
-----------------------
Mark the
date and time!
BE THERE FOR
FIELD'S!
BE THERE FOR
CHICAGO!
...and bring friends and
family!
-----------------------
*
Field's Fans should start gathering at 12:40
Under the Great Marshall Field's Clock at
State & Washington Streets
*
Wear your "Marshall Field's Best" or something
dark green (please, no profane t-shirts).
*
Bring signs and placards with Marshall Field's slogans.
*
A limited number of additional signs will be available at the
protest.
*
Carry a Marshall Field's Shopping Bag.
*
Carry a City of Chicago Flag.
*
Please be peaceable and dignified in the spirit of Marshall
Field's.
*
Please be careful not to obstruct the doors to the store.
*
Please do not stand in or block the street.
*
Check http://www.FieldsFansChicago.org, our Facebook
Group,
our Twitter crawl and your Email box for last minute news and
bulletins.
-------------------------------------------------------
FREE "CITY
of CHICAGO" FLAGS &
"I WANT MY
MARSHALL FIELD'S" BUTTONS
for RALLY
PARTICIPANTS
Participants in our Sunday, September 13
rally will have the opportunity to receive a free 4" X 6"
City of Chicago flag and 2" diameter "I Want My Marshall
Field's" button.
Buttons and flags will be distributed AT THE RALLY until
all are given out. If you wish to be guaranteed a button and
flag AT THE RALLY, please email us in advance at
ButtonsATFieldsFansChicago.org.
-------------------------------------------------------
"Must
Listening"
SPECIAL PODCAST FEATURING
FieldsFansChicago.org
The July 20 podcast edition of
Chicagoist.com features a 37-minute segment on FieldsFansChicago.org
and ItsTheSearsTower.com. The first 22 minutes or so are devoted
to FieldsFansChicago.org and focus on current status of Field's,
Macy's and our grass roots efforts.
We encourage you to listen to this
comprehensive and inspiring interview. Please visit http://media.libsyn.com/media/karlklockars/Chicagoist_Podcast_July_20.mp3 in your web browser or
via iTunes. In iTunes, please use the "Advanced/Open Audio
Stream..." command and paste in the full web
address.
-------------------------------------------------------
Our
Recent Survey on State St. & Michigan Ave.:
78%
PREFER MARSHALL FIELD'S
As first reported to you in our press
release emailed on May 15, 2009, our recently completed survey of 522
State Street and Michigan Avenue shoppers showed that 78% preferred
Marshall Field's over Macy's; 72% said that they shop at the stores
less (or not at all) since they were converted to Macy's; and 78% said
that they would shop the stores more if they were converted back to
Marshall Field's. The margin of error was 4.23% with a
confidence level of 95%.
Expanded details can be viewed at
http://www.fieldsfanschicago.org
The results of this survey were presented
to Macy's, Inc. CEO, Chairman, and President Terry Lundgren and
Macy's, Inc.'s Board of Directors during the "Q & A"
session after the conclusion annual shareholders meeting in Cincinnati
on Friday, May 15, 2009.
-------------------------------------------------------
STAY IN TOUCH
VIA THE FieldsFansChicago.org BLOG
The FieldsFansChicago.org blog is a place
for Field's Fans to talk about Marshall Field's and what it means to
them. Stop on by to share thoughts, comments, news and rumors.
The URL is http://www.fieldsfanschicago.org/blog
-------------------------------------------------------
JOIN OUR NEW GROUP on
FACEBOOK
Back in 2006, Facebook was known mostly to
college students and faculty. Even then, dozens of student-run
Facebook groups in support of Marshall Field's (not to mention
Dayton's and Hudson's) sprang up among the youth and played a big part
in our activities.
Today, Facebook has become a mainstream
phenomenon. While some of those pro-Field's groups remain, we
hope all Facebook users will join our newly founded Facebook
"umbrella" group--"
FieldsFansChicago.org"-- in support of the return of Marshall
Field's.
Search for FieldsFansChicago.org on
Facebook and add us as a group. And, be sure to "Invite
people to join."
-------------------------------------------------------
FOLLOW US on
TWITTER
Get up-to-the-minute news and photos about
our grassroots group on Twitter.
Follow us at "FieldsFansChgo"
(Please note that "Chicago" is abbreviated in our
name.)
"Find out what we are doing right
now!"
-------------------------------------------------------
DO YOU WISH TO
SPONSOR OUR ACTIVITIES?
In these tough times we acknowledge that
there are many causes deserving of your support. If you are so
moved, we welcome your assistance in offsetting some of the expenses
of our ongoing leaflet and button distributions, as well as other
activities in support of Field's.
We are totally committed to continuing our
efforts. People have come forward in amazing ways to help,
donating leaflets, pin-on buttons, bumper stickers, advertising and
more.
Thank you for your help so we can continue
to inspire others to support the return of Marshall
Field's.
If you can donate, please email
donateATfieldsfanschicago.org as to how and where to send a check.
Alternatively, PayPal contributions are accepted at
donateATfieldsfanschicago.org
All contributions are solely channeled to
offset our activities.
Thank you for your amazing
support!
-------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL
REGARDS
A very special "thank you" to all
who helped make our ongoing campaigns, events and efforts a success
including but not limited to Daniel, Alfred and, of course, Gloria.
All named and unnamed are our heroes!
Please remember that your efforts to help
bring back Marshall Field's are greatly appreciated, respected, and
admired. Your work is already making a difference, putting the
brakes on Macy's disregard for Marshall Field's and what it means to
Chicago. Spread the word. You are helping to make
history.
All of our efforts will make the return to
greatness come true.
-------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO
SUBSCRIBE & UNSUBSCRIBE; MORE...
TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
Send email to
unsubscribeATfieldsfanschicago.org
Please include the email address you wish
unsubscribed if it is not the one from which you are sending the
request.
TO SUBSCRIBE:
Send email to
subscribeATfieldsfanschicago.org
Subscription requests must be sent from the email address that is to
be added to the subscriber list.
SWITCHING ADDRESSES?
1.) Send an unsubscribe request from either
you old address or your new one; then
2.) send a subscribe request from your new address.
Again, NEW "Subscribe" requests MUST come from the address
at which this newsletter is to be delivered.
* Please send all bug reports to
infoATfieldsfanschicago.org
* FieldsFansChicago.org and this
newsletter have NO affiliation whatsoever with Macy's, Inc. (formerly
Federated Department Stores), May Department Stores, Macy's,
Bloomingdale's, Marshall Field's, the Field Family, the Field
Foundation of Chicago, keepitfields.org, etc. The views, opinions, and
info expressed here represent only the writer. Corrections
welcomed and published in our next enewsletters.
-------------------------------------------------------
END OF
NEWSLETTER #19
-------------------------------------------------------
Posted by: S.B.
The latest advertisement in the Macy's windows? Q-tips. Can you believe it?
Posted by: Peter
Anyone know why the benefactor of Glamorama shifted from the Art Institute of Chicago to Ronald McDonald House?
Posted by: S.B.
I was walking on State Street today and there in the rain I saw the sign that said... "Bigsby & Kruthers Returns."
Posted by: Jim
Thanks to "Field's Fan Forever" and Pete for bringing the Chicagoist Podcast to our attention.
http://chicagoist.com/2009/07/20/chicagoist_podcast_720_-.php
However, be aware that the photos accompanying the article are not appropriate for mixed audiences such as those sensitive to profane gestures and word, in grade schools, etc. In consideration of that, you can just listen to the podcast without photos at
http://media.libsyn.com/media/karlklockars/Chicagoist_Podcast_July_20.mp3
While the interview was on short notice and a bit "on the fly" , I do think it summarizes where we are at now in terms of our quest to bring back Marshall Field's. I hope that you will give it a listen.
Posted by: Vivian C.
I, too, was surprised that the the CFO of macy's, Karen Houget could only muster the tiny (almost hilariously insignificant) example of "macy's doing what customers want". How pathetic! I had to laugh out loud, after re-reading the quote to make sure I was reading it correctly. I agree with Mary E. that Marshall Field's ladies shoe salons carried the complete lines and sizes of shoes, including size 11, long, long ago. Starting to carry size 11 shoes---Is THAT what macy's CFO thinks is new, exciting, innovative and most significant?! (Well, knowing macy's, maybe that IS the most important thing they have instituted at macy's...and so, that IS major for macy's! Give me a break!
Posted by: Mike Al.
I was walking past Macy's State Street on Monday and noticed one of the sponsor's of Glamorama is Alfani, Imagine that!
Posted by: drew
First JC Penney and now Kohl's entering the Red Star's home turf:
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN1948156220090819?rpc=44
Perhaps the Red Star is no longer the Manhattan retail powerhouse and shopping destination it once was. Although I have not been in the Herald Square store for many years, I would bet the merchandise is the same overpriced, nondescript discount store stuff sold at every Red Star outlet. As JP Penney and Kohl's gain popularity with shoppers, the Red Star has offended and bored shoppers from coast to coast.
Posted by: Trudy N.
I was and remain appalled that Macy's was/is stupid enough to try to eliminate Marshall Field's....NEVER!
Posted by: A Field's Fan Forever
Chicagoist features an interview with Jim McKay, co-organizer of FieldsFansChicago.org
http://chicagoist.com/2009/07/20/chicagoist_podcast_720_-.php
Posted by: Jacqueline K.
I'm a supporter of the Marshall Field's cause, having grown up in The Region, and I was thrilled to find your website!
Posted by: James P
At a recent Cubs home game, the person sitting next to me was part of a group who traveled together in a van from Missouri. His wife was telling that for them it's now just a one day trip into and out of Chicago with the only stops being Wrigley Field and a restaurant along the way. Previously they would make it a 2-day trip, spent overnight at a downtown Chicago hotel, with the second day being spent entirely at Marshall Field's State Street store for shopping...and dining. Not anymore, she said, since macy's killed Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Alexis G.
Posted by: gle
The "Tribune" now requires posters to register in order to write on their blogs. It is free and simple.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-macys-on-the-call,0,6794201.story
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1712520,SHOES-SIZE11-MACYS-081209.article
Posted by: gle
Second quarter results are out at the www.macysinc.com website:
Posted by: gle
I went in the State Street store last week and asked a sales associate in the lower level Frango department if they carried the made-in-Chicago Frango's by Cupid Candies. She said it was not possible to tell, "All the boxes say manufactured by Macy's." I checked through the 1 lb. boxes (that is supposed to be the size made in Chicago by Cupid), and they did still have the manufactured by Macy's New York labeling.
Posted by: gle
Fellow Field's Fans,
Posted by: John D.
The Chicago Reader questions back in January 2007 what seems like the Chicago Sun-Times slanted alliance with macy's.
The challenging and precarious situation of print media makes it tragically difficult for our finest news instotutions to give the whole
story on Macy's. And to think the modern Sun-Times was founded by Marshall Field's decendents.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/dont-mention-it/Content?oid=924042
Posted by: cheryl H.
Marshall Fields was a shopper's retail Disneyworld...a step back into a classier time if you so desired, an educational experience if that was what you wanted, visiting other lands, experiencing other cultures or simply slippping into timeless eternity were also possibilities.
Posted by: C. Willis
The exec at macy's is confused and does not have a clue. First, Mr. Lundgren wanted a national department store...(which we already had several of)...and now he's searching for "localization" after he destroyed the local regional department stores that had loyal followings.
Posted by: Zelda
Field's Fans will flip when they go to see the new movie, "The Time Traveler's Wife." One of the main characters is seen as a child running through a field with a large Marshall Field's shopping bag. It's in the trailer, too, so anyone can watch it online if they do a search for the movie. The legend lives, and will return!
Posted by: Mary E.
Ms. Hoguet makes it sound like macy's just suddenly came up with this "localization" grand idea to begin carrying ladies shoes in size 11. Let me tell you, because I worked at Field's comprehensive shoe department...Marshall Field's carried size 11 shoes before your boss, Terry Lundgren dismantled Field's fine shoe salons and eliminated size 11 and everything else that made Field's a real department store!
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWPRmigkL4DFENTwOzwRobkZsD1wD9A1GIRG0
Posted by: J.C.
Here's one for y'all...
http://consumerist.com/5027428/
Posted by: Janie L.
What one person, Lisa L, stated in 2007 about the
http://www.planet99.com/chicago/tour/macys_marshall_fields.html
Posted by: Corey K.
Hi Fellow Field's Fans-
Posted by: Lynn S.
was born in Chicago and now live in California. My sister and I visit "the town we love" as often as possible. I remember holding my mother's hand as she shopped at Marshall Fields and all the windows at Christmas. Marshall Fields means Chicago to me and to so many others. It is a one-of-a-kind store. NOT MACYS!
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
So now those wacky folks at Macy's claim their midwest division is the most profitable. How can that be with so many unstocked and customer free stores in the Chicago area? Yet another PR ploy I would imagine. Or, the other divisions are doing even worse. Macy's also claim the "My Macy's" program is a huge success - but, of course, no numbers were shared.
Posted by: Jennifer P.
I was crushed when Marshall Fields ceased to be in Houston a few years back. Love your website!
Posted by: L. Grand
I was very pleased to see Marilyn C's wonderful greeting from Hawaii to our group. Her zeal and support were evident and I'd just like to say, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT, MARILYN.
Posted by: Alex G.
Terry Lundgren's committing the "worst business decision ever in retail" will forever come back to haunt him.
Posted by: drew
An "aggressive cost cutting campaign" has enabled macy*mart to conceal the truth about King Lunkhead's rapidly collapsing empire:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Earnings-apf-659968370.html?x=0&.v=2
Posted by: Joy C.
What a terrible shame macy's massacred Marshall Field's! Mayor Daley fell for Terry Lundgren's false promises of keeping
Posted by: Bill W.
Marshall Field's was the only store I willingly went with my wife to shop. Field's had countless departments that men would be interested in, and the service was tremendously appealing. I learned so much about wines, and I could shop at the most complete men's store around at my own leisure. Just walking around gave me much exercise, and the sales associates were so congenial, knowledgable and easy-to-converse-with. They were not there just to ring up purchases. Now, my wife goes to Carson's, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom and Von Maur and online, but claims shopping is nothing like it was with Field's. I agree. That special specialness is so gone that it's eerie...and sad. Marshall Field's was Chicago through-and-through, the genuine real thing!
Posted by: Don D.
Marshall Field's---As Chicago As It Gets!
Posted by: gle
Here is a link for Messy's upcoming webcast August 12, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. ET from the macysinc.com website.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=84477&eventID=2369355
Posted by: Philip Eichler
I haven't posted in a while, so here's a few random thoughts:
Posted by: Susan
Re tradition:
Posted by: Rich
Hi All
Posted by: drew
If nothing else, the Red Star is consistent:
http://retailsails.com/monthly-sales-summary/macys/
Each monthly and quarterly report shows a consistent decline in sales. Each monthly and quarterly report blames consolidation and/or reorganization expenses but promises some "exciting" new program such as "my macy*s" which will attract customers.
Posted by: Alan
Something to keep in mind is that over the past few weeks, although all retailers have recovered, Nordstrom has quietly outperformed Macy's by quite a large margin. They have half the stores, yet on a market cap basis they are worth about the same (it's been going back and forth depending on the day).
Posted by: drew
The downward spiral continues as macy*mart's July sales plummet 10.7 %:
Posted by: JC
During macy's webcast presentation next Wed, Aug 12, of the second quarter financial results, financial analysts should be aware that CFO Karen Houget will not be able to use her standard line of "We do not break down sales figures for the State Street Store". The Pres/CEO/Chairman Terry Lundgren already has admitted in recent months that macy's inc. DOES have the separate sales figures for its stores. He referred to separate figures in making a statement about the State Street Store.
Posted by: Ben W.
I recently took a cab from the Hyatt Regency to the Chicago Theater. The taxi driver mentioned that he hears vast numbers of people each day tell how they miss Marshall Field's and how sad the MF building now appears on State Street. He stated that he hardly ever hears anyone ask to go to macy's now. He said prior to the takeover, he averaged more than one hundred trips a day to Marshall Field's, and that was just HIS taxi alone! No one comes to Chicago to go to one of 800 macy stores.
Posted by: Rich W
With July retail sales released today, Messy's has come out a BIG loser again. Comp store sales for Messy's were down 10.7% in July, and are down 9.3% for the year-to-date selling period. Their sales trend is getting worse while many others are getting better! Kohl's July comp store sales increased .4% for July, even though for the year they are still down 3.2%. Nordstrom also improved their sales performance in July, with a comp store sales decrease of 6.9% (a major improvement over June's performance) versus a year-to-date comp store sales decrease of 11.3%. Nordstrom is obviously picking up some of the business Messy's tossed aside when they downgraded their assortments and Kohl's is taking their moderate business away with clean stores and decent customer service. Even Carson's/Bon Ton did better than Messy's, with a comp store sales decrease of 9.8%. So much for the magic of Messy's....not only making the customers disappear, but also the money in the cash registers! Poof...gone! Now if we can only get Lunkhead and the inept board members to disappear.....
Posted by: Cher
know of one big way macy's could at least get more people in their stores....NOT change the service, merchandise quality and the name on the door to macy's. Change it all back to the way it was! I cannot begin to tell you how many of my co-workers on business trips, would have taken time to go into Burdine's of Florida, Marshall Field's of Chicago, Jordan Marsh of Boston and Kaufmann's of Pittsburgh because they were special in their own way. Now, who would go into macy's in Miami for a swimsuit, because they could buy a macy's swim suit back home. Burdine's slogan---BURDINE'S---The Florida Store was a destination for tourists and it was truly Florida. Now the stores seem so empty and unappealing. We want Field's back too. My co-workers competed to be get the clients in the Chicago area. That meant they would be in Marshall Field's territory for some serious shopping! Now every place seems to be macy's territory, and I don't like it...and it appears millions of others do not either.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Nothing against Bullocks Wilshire or Liberty House or any other department store subsumed by Macy's, but the fact remains, only Marshall Field's was a huge enough force to continually shape the face of its city. Famous Barr was a store that I shopped and I know more than a few from St. Louis who miss it. I'd feel sentimental if Carson's became Macy's. But Marshall Field's helped make Chicago an international city, became Chicago's best known fashion brand, helped bring it two international expositions, so many cultural institutions and simply shaped our city. L.A. would still be pretty much the same if there never was a Bullocks Wilshire; Hawaii would still be a destination even without the much missed Liberty House; St. Louis would still be all that it is at its best without Famous-Barr; even Chicago would still be pretty much the same had Carson's never moved from Amboy, Illinois to our city over 150 years ago. But Chicago would be radically different even in recent in years were it not for Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Susan M
Terry Lundgren, Pres/CEO/Chairman of macys Inc. and the State Street store manager, Linda Piepho, will always be associated with the destruction of the Marshall Field's distinctive, revered and famous way of merchandising as a destination thanks to the Internet. The macy name and way of doing business represents everything Chicago is not. I am really surprised and disgusted that my former classmate Linda at Township school would be associated with Terry Lundgren and the dismantlement of Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Toody
This is really sad. Too bad the people at the top have no regard for "tradition."
Posted by: Marilyn C.
Aloha from Hawaii, Field's Fans!
Posted by: gle
Messy's website highlights another of its stars at macysinc.com:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1310838&highlight=
Posted by: jamesfromCa
To respond to MHC, I loved the video on Bullocks Wilshire, actually by '93 it was an I.Magnin. B/W was a fantastic store, just so elegant and beautiful but to be fair Macy's didn't destroy it, times changed and the higher end retail moved west towards Beverly Hills and Century City, the neighborhood changed. Three blocks east of B/W is McArthur Park which is a fairly dangerous neighborhood even in the middle of the day, even now it's not a safe area, that's not mentioned. Bullocks was the last hold out in the area. Macy's doesn't get a pass for removing all the fixtures on the B/W building but it was their building and they didn't see any future in this neighborhood at the time.
Posted by: L.G. in VA
Even though I no longer live in Chicago, going to Fields was a ritual when visiting my family back home. At Christmas our tradition was to hit the store the day after Christmad to buy ornament, wrapping paper, and decore for the holidays. Then we would go to the Walnut room for lunch. I wanted to continue that tradition with my kids, but since the change to Macy's . . . Well sadly, it's not doable.
Posted by: S.B.
Only an idiot who destroyed the "ultimate department store Marshall Field's" would ever say something like this --
Posted by: Deb K.
Posted by: drew
Thanks to MTC for the excellent link to the Bullock's Wilshire video. What a grand and unique building that surely provided memorable shopping and dining experiences. Fortunately the landmark building has been preserved and repurposed, but the wonderful department store is gone thanks to "those wacky folks at macy*s."
Posted by: John
Interesting point from Wikipedia regarding Harrod's history..almost a century ago... Lessons can be learned from this about how to set thing right.
Posted by: Rich W
I get so disgusted when I read some of the comments posted on articles about Messy's where the poster comments that "we should get over it"..."Field's is dead"..."don't you all have better things to do with your time", etc. Just as Marshall Field's was lost in 2006, the passion of people to stand up for what's right and what we believe in has been lost as well, alas the stupid posts from these people who have no clue. The return and restoration of Marshall Field's to its original prominence is indeed important. Important to the culture as an institution as well as a major tourist attraction. Important to the charities Marshall Field's and Target Corp supported in our community. Important to the long time associates who made their livelihood proudly representing Marshall Field's to a loyal customer base and treated properly by their managers. Important to the Chicago and midwest customer who wanted something unique to shop for. Important to the customer who wanted to shop in a store where they could buy something special and high end as a treat, but also buy a Field Gear shirt they could wear for eternity. Important to customers who appreciated superior customer service from knowledgeable and polite sales associates. Important to all of us who would make special trips to Chicago during the holidays to shop at Field's, eat in the Walnut Room, wait in lines to see the fabulous window displays and the mammoth Christmas tree. Yes, there was an important emotional connection between Marshall Field's and the world (it was not just a Chicago institution....its connection to Selfridge's in London gave it a world class status)-- and anyone who is skilled at brand management knows that the #1 goal of a brand is to make an emotional connection to the customer that compels them to shop the brand over and over. Obviously Lunkhead did not study such a principle while taking real estate classes. And for those who seem to root their dismissal of our efforts as a business-related decision that we need "to get over"....one of the classic WORST business decisions ever to be made was eliminating the unique, differentiated Marshall Field's brand that would be much more successful today and replacing it with a bland, coast to coast chain store that lacks any special appeal. Lunkhead and crew are responsible for a major blunder that they are unwilling to address with inflated egos that will keep them making the same bad business decisions over and over. My Messy's will never replace what was My Marshall Field's. NEVER!
Posted by: Deb K.
I have never known of a company which deliberately antagonizes an enormous customer base and steadfastly will not budge out of being plain stubborn. Every other company, other than macy's, would listen and somehow save public image and correct course back to the way customers liked. They are in business to keep customers coming back. Coca-Cola, as an exaplem, admitted the mistake of New Coke and went back to producing and marketing New Coke. I cannot imagine a highly respected company, such as Nordstrom, for example, having their reputation tarnished by continuation of a bad decision. They would correct it. People would respect such a company and then patronize them. It seems that macy's thrives on discord and doing the opposite of what the customer wants! Smart CEOs want to hold onto each and every customer they already have. It's far easier to keep your present customer base by responsive management, than having to find new customers im today's market. (That's what my Univ of Illinois marketing professor told us last semester.)
Posted by: A. Earl
It just seems to me that Macy's is trying to run the State Street store into the ground. It's really sad to go into such a beautiful store and see dirty floors with duct taped tile, broken escalators, broken elevators, wet floor signs, dismantled leased vendors, etc. There is hardly any reason to go into that store other than to buy cheap, overpriced junk that is going to fall apart in a month. I think Macy's just wants to use the former Marshall Field's stores as a tax write off. I really feel sorry for the Marshall Field's employees still working there who can't find jobs elsewhere due to the economy. It must be really hard for them to go into work every day. The boycott is working!!
Posted by: Sabrina M.
One of the things I LOVED about Marshall Fields was how they had that "Mothers Room" such a comfortable and special place for moms to attends to the needs of their babies. I can remember when the media ran articles on how Field's was the first store in the nation to offer such a service. The room even had a proper changing table, not like those gawdawful 'changing tables' you see in public restrooms that remind me more of fold out irons in some cheap flophouse! I wish we in the Pacific Northwest would fight to take back Meier and Frank from Macy's but alas. However, your group inspired me to start a facebook group for alumni employees of Meier & Frank and their customers...so at least the name will live on in spirit
Posted by: MTC
Here's a great video about another tradition destroyed by Macy's, the Bullocks Wilshire store in Los Angeles.
http://kcet.org/local/shows/huell_howser/2008/12/bullocks-tea-room.html
Posted by: Susan
Yes, that Becker article should be framed. The pain will not go away- knowing that the money barons, empowered with gobs of cash and a smaller globe to conquer, see no farther or higher than the plane of the virtual deposit slip. It really exemplifies the Biblical question: What does it matter whether you gain the global franchise if you lose your soul? However calculating the construction and implementation of Marshall Field and Company might have been, shared delight was part of the strategy.
Posted by: John D.
This article from ArchitectureChicago Plus first published in Sept, 2005 has even stronger meaning today in 2009!
Posted by: Bob C.
Here's how I am helping the macy's and bloomingdale's boycott. Everyday Monday through Friday I ride the commuter train into downtown. Each day I make a point to bring up the subject of macy's to a fellow passenger either sitting or standing. Let me tell you that in the past two years alone that could total well more than 1,000 people on my commutes into town and back home. The vast majority of people think it was a disaster for macy's to change the merchandising, selection, service, and also the name. Many tell me that it's easy to boycott, since macy's merchandise is junk. They miss Field's and they have told me so repeatedly.
Posted by: Richard in Houston
Macy's Tailors Stores to Match Local Tastes
Posted by: Rachael Marie
You longtime Field's Fans will recall that there is a website for retail employees to comment on their employers. Naturally, the macy's section on www.retail-worker.com is a busy one daily.
Posted by: Pete
The writer of this blog is Mike Doyle, a self-described "New Yorker living in Chicago" who doesn't, IMHO, always get Marshall Field's but sure gets it most of the time.
Posted by: KMAJF
I worked at Field's for 30 years and loved every year.
Posted by: gle
Amidst current debate on whether business entities have the rights to call buildings certain names, and whether patrons are therefore obligated to call those buildings certain names, one thing remains clear--Chicago residents take great pride in and care about their city. We are going to act like it. And yes, WE STILL WANT OUR MARSHALL FIELD'S IN QUALITY AND SERVICE AS WELL AS IN NAME!
Posted by: mj McGreevy
The comments continue still on NBC Chicago's website about public hatred of macy's for what they did to Marshall Field's. You, newer Field's Fans readers, should be interested in what readers said a while back.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/around_town/the_scene/Wait-Isnt-This-Marshall-Fields.html?corder=&pg=1#comments
Posted by: Michelle
Whenever I wanted a "lift" after feeling depressed or down in years gone by, I would head for Marshall Field's where I would forget all my cares.
Posted by: J.C.
Keep telling others about the boycott against Macy's and Bloomingdale's, folks! The boycott is working. I still run across some people who are visiting Chicago and say they are now shopping at Bloomingdale's to revenge Macy's for what they did to Field's. I make it clear to each that Macy's Inc. owns Bloomingdale's too. To be effective, we all need to boycott macy's and AND blomingdale's across the entire United States of America!
Posted by: drew
This summer, MacyC-s will welcome Emeril Lagasse, one of AmericaC-s most beloved celebrity chefs, to its esteemed MacyC-s Culinary Council, a culinary initiative that aims to impact the way customers shop, cook and eat at home."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Chef-Emeril-Lagasse-Joins-bw-2493105256.html?x=0&.v=1
MACY'S Culinary Council? Wasn't this "esteemed" collaborative developed and supported by Marshall Field's? Didn't Marshall Field's distinguish itself as a store offering excellent restaurant services, wonderful food items as well as unique and high quality kitchen wares?
Posted by: drew
Failure to integrate the May Department Stores, shift in direction to more "localization" instead of standardization and continuous downfalls in sales and ratings are getting to be old news with macy*mart.
http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_(A_to_Z)/Stocks_M/threadview?m=tm&bn=6722&tid=15812&mid=15814&tof=1&rt=2&frt=2&off=1
Admit it, there is no way out of the macy*fication muddle. Shoppers SAID they didn't want macy*mart and shoppers have PROVEN that "one size fits all" bland, nondescript and overpriced schlock isn't "the sensation across the nation" by moving to other retail venues. How unbelievable that shareholders have continued to accept Mr Lunkhead's misguided and arrogant disregard of reality. It isn't working, Terry!
Posted by: Christopher
Hi all, I just found this site and it is quite interesting. I live in Atlanta, GA and Macy's did it to us twice down here. They took away our Davison's stores in the '80's and our beloved Rich's a few years ago. Macy's is awful, their stores always have been. It is such a bland experience now.
Posted by: Dominick
WOW! I must say...it broke my heart walking through Marshall Fields, State Street last month. My partner and I were driving cross-country and made a stop over in our beloved Chi-Town. Now being a NYC Native myself and my partner a Chicago Native....I always LOVED Macy's. Now thats when it was truly a great department store many years ago.
Posted by: Jim
Weird editorial in tody's Chicago Tribune about Willis, Sears, Frangos, and Marshall Fields, globalization, etc.
Posted by: drew
A friend who recently retired was honored by her colleagues at a breakfast. Among her retirment presents was a Red Star gift card. My friend was most upset when she went to the Red Star and tried to redeem the card for cash since she doesn't shop there. She said that she walked through the almost deserted store several times because she had to redeem the gift card but none of the merchandise interested her. She commented that the clothing with "wild colors and crazy patterns" were not suitable for a mature woman. My friend couldn't find shoes in her small size but the helpful Red Star salesperson suggested she try the children's department! Of course, she didn't want to purchase Martha Stewart home items which she wouldn't buy at Kmart for half the price. "How bad is it when you are basically getting something for free, but there is nothing you want in the store?"
Posted by: Ronald
I was read the Sun-Times Richard Roeper column today and he said that Chicagoan have accepted grudgingly accepted that Marshall Field's is now "MESSY." and I have not one of them that accept that Field's Macys. and got me so mad at that column I am not read the Sun Times anymore until Marshall Fields return to Chicago!
Posted by: Joyce Fuller
What have you done to my home town, folks? Macy moving in from New York, Cellular one couldn't make it in the phone business, and who the heck is WILLIS? Where's Fannie May when you need her??? Don't let them change our Chicago. It's a city that always welcomed the whole world. But now outsiders want to take away the history, the charm, the class, and identity of a great town (Frank Sinatra's "kinda town"). It'll always be comisky to me. And the sears tower was built by Sears, not willis!!
Posted by: Pete
I agree, with Sears Tower it's just a name change, with Marshall Field's, it's an entirely different store.
Posted by: Nathan B.
On my recent trip into Chicago, I stopped by the Chicago Visitors Center. Reading that Marshall Field's had been the #3 most popular tourist attraction, I asked what she had experienced with the reaction of tourists to macy's.
Posted by: gayle
Hi Folks,
Posted by: Kim B.
Overheard conversation between two passengers at O'Hare Airport:
Posted by: drew
JC Penney's new Manhattan department store might make macy*mart's management a little nervous:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/JC-Penney-takes-on-apf-1513547393.html?x=0&.v=3
Interesting that the article describes macy*mart as "higher priced" rather than more upscale than Penney. Actually Penney's Nicole Miller, Chris Madden and Sephora would attract a better demographic than Tommy Hilfiger, Martha Stewart and Alfani. Mr Lunkhead's attempt to beat JC Penney and Kohl's at their own game is laughable--much like Kmart's failed efforts to beat walmart on price.
Posted by: gle
I have been watching publicity for the 100th anniversary of architect Daniel H. Burham's "Plan for Chicago." Burnham designed the Marshall Field's building on State Street. That's the building Messy's has let go to rot at a time when many eyes are focused on anything Burnham. I also recently attended some image marketing workshops that ask the question, "What is the first thing a person sees?"
Posted by: LJH
Many years ago when I worked downtown, I would spend my lunch hour window shopping at Marshall Field's State Street Store and dream about when I could afford to actually buy some of the treasures I found there. Now that I can afford them, I don't set foot in Macy's. I was offended by the idea that we want to become another burough (spelling ?) of New York City. The execs of Macy's should all read "Give the Lady What She Wants" to learn of the spirit of Field's and the city that grew with it.
Posted by: Noreen N., Jersey City, NJ
Because of what Macy's did to Field's, I shop anywhere but Macy's.
Posted by: Don
My wife and I used to drive into Chicago quarterly from Iowa just to shop at Marshall Field's in Oak Brook and Downtown. We would have at least a dozen big green shopping bags afterward. We haven't set foot into the stores either since that awful day three years ago when macy's thought they knew everything, and inflicted us with plain-Jane macy's. What an ignorant and out-of-touch decision it was on Terry Lundgren's part to erase the Marshall Field's style of merchandising, customer service, ambiance and naturally, the name. From all reports, the boycott IS unquestionably working, Field's Fans. Keep it up. Keep telling others about it. Marshall Field's IS Chicago. Chicago IS Marshall Field's!
Posted by: Mike C
Had time the other day to explore the old Kaufmanns Flagship store downtown Pittsburgh after work. To my surprise the old store seemed somewhat clean and merchandise displays were neat and organized. Why, because there are no customers shopping and the associates and visual team have nothing else to do than maintain the old gal.I noticed the Fine Jewery counters are empty and the candy counter has been relocated to the mezzanine level. Housewares outposts can be found as well on the mezzanine. Gone are the hotdog,Pizza and Icecream parlors. Very little merchadise is available on racks and walls are bare. Just a matter of time before floors will be cosolidated to just a few. How sad to watch this old grand building fade away to nothing. Thanks Macys for ruining whats left of the OLD GRAND DAMS !
Posted by: A Field's Fan
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=307531
Posted by: PJM
I haven't set foot inside "Macy's" in OakBrook - and that store used to be MY ONLY retailer when it came to gifts and my own personal shopping.
Posted by: Alicia
I am 29, and I refuse to shop in macy's for what they did to Chicago's own Marshall Field's. So many of my friends who live in Lake County are saddened because shopping is no longer something we do. Oakbrook, Woodfield, Northbrook, Hawthorne, Old Orchard are just like any other malls in the country now. Marshall Field's made each nakk special and a distinctive destination point. Friends of ours across the country used to say---"Hey, we're catching a plane and coming to Chicago. Please tell Marshall Field's to get prepared for some serious shoppers!" They don't do that anymore. They know what Macy's is about, because they have zillions back home. They refuse to step in macy's.
Posted by: Paul F
The Sun-Times is running a poll on what change bothers readers most: Sears to Willis, Comiskey to US Cellular, MARSHALL FIELD'S to MACY'S, etc.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1668752,CST-NWS-willis16.article?plckCurrentPage=1&sid=sitelife.suntimes.com
Posted by: Holly R
It's been 3 years now that Marshall Fields has been abscent from Chicago, now replaced with that "other" store. I have yet to step in those stores that once occupied Fields ... and can guarentee that I won't ever again! Bring back Marshall Fields!
Posted by: Jim
The controversey of the renaming of the Sears Tower to the Willis Tower is generating a lot of discussion about the conversion of Field's to Macy's.
Posted by: Tammi
have MANY friends in SW Michigan who feel the same. In fact I have refused to shop in Crapy's just on principle alone let alone the store is awful.
Posted by: onfile
[Re: Frangos]
Posted by: Jim W.
My brother, a Chicago native, lives in Denver. He told me the story of his going into a Denver macy's and asking for the famous FRANGO Mints, soon after the hostile takeover of Field's, Foleys and the many other famous, revered department store names.
Posted by: drew
Coming soon to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston, a downsized downtown macy*mart:
Posted by: drew
Watch for the remaining downtown stores being further macy*ized:
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/07/13/story3.html
Posted by: Google Alerts
Dayton's/Field's personal shoppers leave after Macy's takeover and become a success:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/style/50855742.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ
Excerpt:
"The day before the signs switched from Marshall Field's to Macy's, we were out the door," Walker said.
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
From Jimmy Gimbels' amazing way back machine:
"Macy's confirms that Cupid Candies, a long time family owned business on the south side, will start production of the one-pound boxes of Frango mint chocolates this spring. They will only produce the chocolates while the rest of the items will continue to be made in Pennsylvania."
"Macy's announced Wednesday that the mints many Chicagoans grew up loving are going to be made at a Chicago candy factory again.
SEE FOLKS, I TOLD YOU THAT CUPID WOULD NOT BE USING THE ORIGINAL RECIPE!
Posted by: jimmy gimbels
I live for stuff like this!
Posted by: Alan
There are a few Marshall Field's-related comments to this Sears/Willis Tower blog item.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/07/sears-tower-changes-name-to-willis-tomorrow-1.html
Posted by: Pete
I will only buy Frangos from Marshall Field's. There are plenty of other good local chocolates made in Chicago.
Posted by: CurtM
As a fan of Field's and historic department stores, I am a frequent visitor to this site. Being from St Louis, I want to comment on Larry's post. It was revealed last Friday by the St Louis Business Journal (article written by Lisa R Brown) on their website briefly that Macy's has received some tax credits from the City of St Louis for the Downtown St Louis store (formerly the flagship of Famous Barr,formerly the home office of May Co on the upper floors, and until last year held one of the Macy's regional offices,most of the office space is vacant I'm told). The article was posted on the Journal's website for a few hours and then it was taken down. The site then said the article was for subscribers only, which I am not one of them. Ironically, I am not aware of any other media in St Louis making a similar announcement. The selling space of the store is currently 6 floors. Several years ago before Macy's, May had eliminated a few floors from selling space. Macy's says they are going to keep the store open, but condense the Downtown St Louis store to 3 floors. A Macy's spokesperson in the article said that downtown stores that they (Macy's) have open are not their typical size, adding that new Macy's stores are about 125,000 square feet.
Posted by: Rich
Hi All
Posted by: Sarah
I asked my daughter what she thinks of Tommyh Hilfiger. She laughed.
Posted by: Jim McKay
The top story at the Sun-Times' website is a press conference at the Macy's fashion incubator on State Street featuring Mayor Daley, announcing that Tommy Hilfiger will be playing a big role in the program providing opportunities for six fledgling designers in Macy's space.
Other newspapers, TV and radio stations, and more will also cover this as well as a story about Tommy Hilfiger being part of the fashion incubator on State Street. Please respond to these
reports where ever possible--on the web, via phone calls, and letters to the editor.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Macy's appears to be launching a new push in the Chicago area, perhaps to stoke sales in a market where, as MSNBC so sharply pointed out in May, "Chicago still hates Macy's"
Posted by: Zelda
My husband and I were watching "Check, Please" last night, and the Atwood Cafe was the featured restaurant. The Atwood is located at the southwest corner of State and Washington, kitty-corner from the former Field's flagship store. One of the reviewers was talking about the beauty of the room and the large windows. He said it was across the street from what he and his wife "still refer to as Marshall Field's." I let out a whoop of joy. There's only one store I know that has such a loyal following, especially 3 years after a takeover. It's not just that macy's is so bad (which it is); it's that it disregarded 150+ years of cultural history and the sheer love of a retail icon, not just locally but across the country.
Posted by: A Swedish-American Field's Fan
I found Marshall Field's information recently added to our Swedish-American Museum in the Andersonville neighborhood.
Posted by: gle
"Macy's, Inc. Same-Store Sales Down 8.9% in June" from its website www.macysinc.com.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri-retail-sales-0710-jul10,0,4141563.story
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1645320,w-merchants-summer-discount-sales-063009.article
Posted by: MPI
i am in Minnesota but I still like Marshall fields way better, and the macys in my city used to be a marshall fields. its horrible that macys took over, especially in chicago
Posted by: S.B.
I was in NYC earlier this week and saw the JCP ads everywhere. I'm so glad Macy's is finally going to face some tough competition. Unfortunately in Chicago right after Macy's took over... both Carson's and Lord & Taylor closed. Macy's basically lost the right-next-door competitor! Image how much worse sales would be at the State Street and Michigan Ave. location if consumers could say "Let's just check out Carson's (or L+T) before buying anything from Macy's." They lucked out that those stores closed... but their luck's over. At the end of this month JCPenney will give them a real run for their money in Herald Square!
Posted by: Jim McKay
In response to Larry's post, Macy's is leasing out the space that was for many deacdes May Department Stores' corporate offices, and, since 2006, the Midwest regional offices of Macy's.
Posted by: Larry Lambright
Anyone in the St. Louis area have any comments about the consolidation of the old Famous-Barr flagshop from 400,000 sq ft to 125,000? I just saw the article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch online, but I'm not a subscriber.
Posted by: Tim in Indiana
I was in Chicago this week for the first time since Field's changed to "M." I wasn't going to go in the State Street store but decided to anyway just to check things out. Actually, I was in there on two different days. The first day was rainy....a good day for lots of people to be in a department store. There were a fair number in the store but it wasn't packed. The store seemed fairly clean and not as much different than when it was Field's but, I only saw two M bags being carried by shoppers. The next day was better weather and I went at 5 PM. The store was pretty deserted. The more I looked around, it was really apparent that the displays and overall layout of the departments just didn't have the same class as Field's. I noticed in the furniture department, two carts just "parked" by the escalator with discarded items on them. Hmmm....could we not move those to a storage room?! I ended up eating in the Walnut Room just for old times sake....in case the store closes some day and I don't have another opportunity. The meal was good but the waiter kept responding to my "thank yous" with..."no problem!" No employee anywhere should ever respond like that. What happened to, "you're welcome." My dinner in the Walnut Room was the only money I turned over to "M", I didn't purchase anything else. Keep up the good work those of you who live in Chicago with your button and leaflet campaign. Hopefully, it will payoff soon!
Posted by: GAYLE
I am writing a book about Marshall Field's significance to Chicago. As a long-time Field's Fan, I'm thrilled to be able to make a concrete contribution towards preserving the Field's legacy.
Posted by: Sharon
The Bolingbrook store is pretty much dead.
Posted by: Joe in Brooklyn
JCPenney will be opening a new NYC Flagship store at 33rd and 6th, in the space once occupied by Macy's top rival, Gimbels.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/business/media/08adco.html?_r=1&ref=business
http://www.jcpnewstores.com/manhattan
Posted by: Meg
I'm one of the diehard Field's fans, who used to spend quite a bit at Field's but refuses to spend any money to speak of at Macy's. I've found a great way to beat Macy's at their own game. I frequently go into macy's, find somelthing I like, then buy it by phone elsewhere or find it on ebay. Ten days ago, I saw a Coach bag on sale at Macy's. It was originally $458, and was on sale for $320. If this were Field's, I would have grabbed it. But I'm so intent on not buying from macy's, I went online and found the exact model (I'd written it down) on ebay. I purchased a new bag of the same model for $229, with a delivery of $15 but no 10% Cook County tax. I cruise Macy's as if it were a catalog, then find the same merchandise elsewhere.
Posted by: Bob
Macy's, Inc will release June sales this Thursday.
Posted by: Dale R.
At various social gatherings, I have heard various macy employees sheepishly state that they "work retail", rather than stating specifically that they work at macy's. I can remember when Marshall Field employees were extremely proud to be associated with Marshall Field & Company and each would proudly say "I'm with Marshall Field's!"
Posted by: A leafletter gle
I was in front of the State Street store July 3. People were absolutely grabbing our leaflets and buttons. The younger generation gals (who were supposed to be Messy's original targets) seemed the most interested in our buttons. Messy's has had THREE YEARS to make an impression. Messy's can no longer say the Chicago market HAS to accept them because they are new. They're not new to Chicago after three years. People I talk with seem fed up with Messy's because of Messy's low-quality and inept management. It is no longer just about a name change, or even a change. Messy's has managed to disenchant customers all on its own. Shoppers now realize it's not the same, and are more eager than ever to wear a button that says "I want my Marshall Field's."
Posted by: Judith M.B.
I was so sorry to see Macy's replace Marshall Field's. I live in Cherry Hill, New Jersey but I grew up in the Chicago area (Fox River Grove ) and still fondly remember trips to the store with my family. Visiting Chicago as an adult and shopping at Marshall Field's brings back great memories; wonderful quality-beautiful store. The best, if not one of the best department stores of all time. Come back!!!
Posted by: David P.
Just a note that makes Independence Day all that more special...tonight's Associated Press (AP) headline reads: "New York City Fireworks Highlight US Independence Day Celebration"... and NO WHERE in the story does it mention that they were sponsored by macy's.
Posted by: Rich
Hi All
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make leaflet and button distribution on State Street before the July 3rd fireworks display a huge success last night. Thanks especially goes out to "gle".
Posted by: Paul
[ The May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports features consumer ratings of what they term "Big Retailers".
Posted by: GRA58
I was one of the folks who booed the Macy's float last year at the Gay Pride Parade. I can tell you I wasn't alone. Is David suggesting that was "rioting"? Good grief. I'm sure it was no fun to feel so unwelcome, but you'd think Macy's would be used to that by now. They're not welcome here. Chicago has made that abundantly clear.
Posted by: A Earl
Yesterday, I was in the State Street store formerly known as Marshall Field's. I went there to meet a friend for lunch. I can't believe how far that store is sinking. Not only is Macy's laying off employees left and right, they also seem to be making more cuts to maintenance. The first thing that I noticed is that an entire bank of elevators on the South Wabash side of the building has been permanently shut down. These are what I call the "Demon Drop" elevators. Apparently Macy's cannot afford to repair them, so they just turned them off. The next thing is that the FAO Schwartz department on Five is moving out. All items are now on clearance and there is hardly anything left. I also ran into a reliable source who told me that the store is going to be open on Thanksgiving day. No other Macy's store in the country will be open except the State Street store. Is that for real????? Can someone confirm???? Who is going to go into that store on Thanksgiving day? This is just insanity to me. They need to change the name back to Marshall Field's and bring back the merchandise, and the service. Macy's seems desperate.
Posted by: "Carole"
I heard from a friend in Kansas City that the Macy's there no longer carries Frangos.
Posted by: A Field's Fan
I was looking at my Marshall Field's cookbook the other day, the one that came out in 2006, right before the switch.
Posted by: Jer Smith
I am proud of my City and Marshall Field's is a big part of that.
Posted by: Restless in Evanston
I'm eager for Field's to come back.
Posted by: Pete
Macy's has disrespected Chicago by closing Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Cathy J.
Macy's can easily earn Chicago's respect and money. We will even cheer and consider shopping their stores outside of Chicago, at least many of us would.
Posted by: Nancy
I'm grateful for the information given to me on Sunday at the Parade.
Posted by: Samantha
Loved the button and the pickets at the parade.
Posted by: McCauley
Marshall Field's = Chicago.
Posted by: Wearing the rainbow Dr. Suess Hat
I won't shop Macy's anywhere until Field's comes back.
Posted by: Lisa.
I received a flyer on Halsted street yesterday.
Posted by: Mary S. of Streamwood.
Please tell the head of Macy's that we don't like your store. I miss Marshall Field's.
Posted by: TIM R.
Macy's is very, very , very stupid to get rid of a great institution like Field's.
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
Interesting side note: Macy's ran a gay pride ad in several publications that featured photos and from San Francisco, St. Louis and New York...and little Cincinnati. No mention of Chicago. I guess that is because we "riot" in the streets.
Posted by: Mike J.
Personally, I would like to see Macy's sell off all Field's stores to a retailer that would restore Marshall Field's back to the way it was b4 Macy's bought out Field's
Posted by: Mary G.
Thank you for the buttons today.
Posted by: Steve H.
I was glad to see the Marshall Field's buttons at the paraade today.
Posted by: Judy M
Dear David:
Posted by: Jim McKay
Thanks to all who helped make today's activities at the Gay Pride Parade a success.
Posted by: Singer
I heard that the float was not at the pride parade because it was booed by so many last year.
Posted by: Pete
Macy's is clueless. Sending a Macy's float to a Chicago parade is like sending the New York Yankees to a Cubs or White Sox parade.
Posted by: Jim McKay
In response to Paul's post, Terry Lundgren, Macy's CEO/Chair/President responded to the survey responses that I presented in Cincinnati at last month's shareholders meeting by saying that the former Field's locations, formerly Macy's North, were among Macy's more profitable and specifically mentioned State Street and I believe Water Tower. He did not give any statistics.
Posted by: PaulF
If David is such a big shot at Macy's, allegedly having worked there since childhood apparently, then I'm sure that he would gladly tell us the actual door and sales numbers.
Posted by: drew
As I read Gayle's comment about Martha Stewart schlock being liquidated at Big Lots and Jimmy Gimbels' post about macy*mart's "exclusive" designer fashions being clearanced out at various outlets, I thought of the sale flyers in our local paper announcing these "exciting" promotions. As Gayle stated, Big Lots is one step above a flea market but they make no pretense about what their store. TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross Dress for Less also clearly identify their place in the market. On the other hand, macy*mart is nothing more than an overpriced discount store pretending to be an upscale department store.
Posted by: Dennis F
The Macy's float in last year's parade was pathetic. Macy's has arguably the best know parade in the USA, known world-wide, every Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Leslie
Responding to David the Macy's employee, do you really think Macy's participation in last year's parade was on par with Prop 8 or another cause?
Posted by: jmi
I haven't shopped at any Macy's store (including Macy's flagship store in NYC last summer) since the conversion from Field's.
Posted by: Edgewater Field's Fan
I was just told by a worker at the Edgewater Historical Society that a recent visitor said her mother did lettering for the Marshall Field's logo. She was thrilled to see the "I want my Marshall Field's" buttons I had put out there, and she and her friends grabbed the whole bunch. I am trying to find out if she left a name so we can get some more information. If that person reads this post, please let either Field's Fans Chicago or the Edgewater Historical Society know. We would love to hear any stories you might like to share.
Posted by: Gail
A conversation overhead at Nordstrom's shoe department last week:
Posted by: Jim McKay
Regarding David's post:
Jim McKay
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
Interesting post from Gayle about Martha Stewart at Big Lots. We've had plenty of reports that large amounts of Macy's merchanidse such as Alfarni have popped up at such stores as Marshall's, TJ Maxx and Goodwill. Got to get rid of the merch somehow.
Posted by: David
I have worked at Marshall Field's/Macy's since I was 16 years old at Cherryvale, State St., and Watertower. I have been through all of the changes. Macy's North (old MF's) is currently the top performing division year over year. Watertower has been profitable the last 2 years for the first time in decades. State St. is up year over year. I can honestly say some great things are happening in the stores visually and from a "My Macy's" merchandise perspective. Marshall Field's meant a lot to me, but seriously let's move on with life. If the stores had been profitable they would still be around... that's how business works. If you think complaining and shopping less is going to bring the name back, think again. And as far as the Pride Parade (which I helped organize last year), Macy's is one of the top rated GLBT employers, and I as a gay man can truly say that I love working for Macy's. We made the choice not to have a float this year instead contributing to GLBT causes in other ways. The idiots who were rioting with "bring back Field's signs" should spend their time rioting against Prop. 8 or another much more worthy and substantial GLBT cause. Let's move on with life people, and spend your time and energy being an activist for relevant causes that affect people's lives, not the name on a department store.
Posted by: gayle
Hi all,
Posted by: John
I would like to announce that Macy's WILL NOT have a float in this year's 40th Anniversary Pride Parade!
Posted by: Jim McKay
As in past years, some supporters of the return of Marshall Field's will be distributing buttons in connection with the Third of July Fireworks and the Chicago Gay Pride Parade.
Posted by: Jim McKay
It appears that Macy's has curtailed some of its community activities this year, including the sponsorship of Chicago's Third of July Fireworks and a float in the Chicago Gay Pride Parade. I believe that Macy's has also suspended Macy's Day of Music at Symphony Center which was started under Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Regarding "GZast"'s post, there's a few things to elaborate on.
Posted by: GZast
Macy's to lease part of its Nicollet Mall building
http://www.startribune.com/local/49109131.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs
Posted by: A Field's Fan
Macy's to lease part of its Nicollet Mall building
http://www.startribune.com/local/49109131.html?elr=
KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs
Last update: June 25, 2009 - 2:17 PM
Posted by: Linda P.
Marshall Field's is touted as "iconic" -- we all know that means unique, special, lengendary, one-of-a-kind. Obviously Macys neither cares about its customers, the City of Chicago, or preserving history.
Posted by: A Field's Fan
Found this great commentary back from 2006 where Andrew Patner of WFMT comments about the loss of Field's.
http://www.wfmt.com/main.taf?p=1,1,41,25,1,1,6
Posted by: RD Nelson
Shoppers in Minneapolis also feel the Macy's pain. The former Dayton's store in downtown Minneapolis is a sad shell of its former self. It was once the center of a thriving downtown retail environment; today, in the post-Field's era, it's a shabby, poorly merchandised and indifferently staffed, third-rate department store. Dayton's (later Field's) was where I did 80 to 90 percent of my shopping, I spent thousands and thousands of dollars there a year, for decades. Now? I'm lucky if I buy shaving cream at the Clinique counter. Multiple me by thousands of customers, and no wonder Macy's is tanking in the Midwest. What were they thinking? Not only has their plan for a national department store failed, it has flushed a century of carefully built-up goodwill and community equity. How could the store's management have been so foolish?
Posted by: Michael Trenteseau
In case you needed to be told what NOT to do in New York:
Posted by: Cindy C.
I used to always make a stop at Marshal Fields after taking the South Shore train to Chicago from South Bend, IN. Now living in the Washington, DC area, we all experienced the same thing here when Macy's took over our beloved Hecht's (which we all still miss).
Posted by: Pete
Analyst expresses concern about Macy's debt load compared to Sears, JCPenney and Eddie Bauer.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/144492-do-macy-s-debt-level
s-indicate-weakness?source=email
Posted by: mds in mt. prospect
Can anyone confirm that the second season of "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here" will take place in a yet to be named Macy's location? So far, I've heard that the producers have signed on Martha Stewart, Jessica Simpson, and Tommy Hilfiger and are awaiting confirmation from Donald Trump and Sean Combs.
Posted by: gle
Messy's plans to open two new stores in the Central Valley of California in the fall of 2009. According to a press release from macysinc.com, both are former Gottschalk locations which Messy's bid for during bankruptcy proceedings. (Looks like another name for the Messy's monopoly board.)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1298400&highlight=
Posted by: Jeff
There was a piece in the NY Times today that was a puff piece for My Macy's and Terry Lundgren. Only it masqueraded as a "story" on what stores were doing for the recession. Some of the comments from readers called the NY Times on that. I posted a comment in the afternoon and I didn't think the Times was going to print it. Then all of a sudden about 90 minutes ago a bunch of comments were posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/business/20retail.html
Posted by: Pete
Financial expert questions the balance sheets at Macy's, including writing down good will associated with Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Norma
I never been happy with Macy's. There is no comparison with Marshall Field's quality of merchendaise and customer service. Marshall Field's should never disapeard. Marshall Field's is a big part of Chicago and Chicago people. Is there any way to bring back Marshall Field's back to Chicago?
Posted by: Anne K.
Here in the Milwaukee area where we miss Marshall Field's as well.
Posted by: Lee
We used to make a trip to Chicago every summer and holiday season to visit Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Daniel W. Harcourt II
After a very long absence of posting onto this blog, I felt compelled to finally break my silence after reading the post by 'drew' on June 13, 2009. It is no secret that I am very animate about the return of Marshall Field's. I use any opportunity to bring up Marshall Field's in daily conversations as I believe that it is important for people to talk about things important to them. I have found in my conversations that Macy's must have conducted their 'research' on Mars as they gathered information concerning the value of the Marshall Field's brand and importance of Marshall Field's to Chicagoans-and people around the world.
Schaumburg, IL
Posted by: Richard in Houston.
My family just returned from a week's vacation at Walt DisneyWorld in Florida. While in line there was a family from Minnesota I visited with. We struck up conversation on ou
r different accents and regions that we were from. I told her how we had rented a movie called "New In Town" which was set in New Ulm, Minn. She said that is where she was fr
om and the town was upset that it was not filmed there, although it is a good movie. This led into more conversation about how unique each region in our nation used to be and,
of course, Marshall Fields came up. She said they still have not gotten over the destruction of Marshall Fields and was surprised Foley's had been "eaten by Macy's" (in her
words) like many other regional stores.
Posted by: Gail Wh.
Some of the pocket travel guides have updated to include Macy's as part of the description of the store at State and Randolph. The ones I have seen are from New York don't get what Field's was all about.
Posted by: Pat B
Aloha from Hawaii:
Posted by: gle
I just finished reading our recommended book, "Webs of Power," by Darlene Quinn. Several of the characters who try to manipulate things to get their names in retail lights as top stars instead of SIMPLY DOING THEIR JOBS or caring about anything else definitely made me think of what we have been reading about Messy's and Lunkhead for 3 years. This also brings to mind all the recommended perks for Messy's board of directors from their shareholder information--at a time when they are LAYING OFF thousands of employees. I think it's no wonder some businesses fail if the focus is not on quality products and service to the CUSTOMER, the way Marshall Field's always came across.
Posted by: drew
Pittsburgh is excited about the Penguins Stanley Cup Championship. Needless to say, there is a HUGE demand for Pens apparel. TV news featured the hectic pace of producing Penguins gear and the hordes of fans purchasing the merchandise.
Posted by: Ron, Nevada
I just found this site, and learned about the efforts to bring back Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Carlos Cli [London]
It's been 3 years and still the name of Marshall Field's is respected WORLD WIDE by thousands of people. The lost of Marshall Field's is not simply a corporate name change. It means the loss of tradition, quality and social values. I am not a Chicagoan from birth, but I am one from the HEART. And it really hurts when people forget who we are, or worst: What made us what we are nowadays. The losses of the Chrysler Corporation or GM's Bankruptcy are quite important issues. As long as the people from the US keep forgetting its roots, American culture will continue to decay. Are we letting this to happen? Why does the American people watch BBCB%s Tog Gear Show and don't complaint at the obvious attacks that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May portray against GM motorcars? Anyone with a bit of common sense can clearly see it. And understand that any false statement made by a journalist, MUST BE STOPPED. MUST BE CONFRONTED. We cannot remain passive!
Posted by: Alan F.
I have to 100% agree with the post from a couple of weeks ago below: If Macy's had spent even half of what they did promoting and remodeling stores as Field's as they have on Macy's, they'd have a hugely profitable store.
Posted by: Pete
When I red the HuffPost article from Friday's post by Jim and then this NY Times article, I realized that the situation with Sam Zell and The Chicago Tribune is not all that different than Terry Lundgren and Macy's. With it looking more and more likely that Zell is on his way out, let's hope that Lundgren is next.
Posted by: Mike M
Today's lead item at www.beachwoodreporter.com is about the Willis Tower, with Steve Rhodes of Beachwood Reporter mentioning the Macy's vs. Marshall Field's controversy. Steve Rhodes writes:
"....Did you know Willis was a British company? I didn't. Beyond that, Macy's is an American company and that didn't relieve it from grief when it renamed Marshall Field's...."
Posted by: Jim
In the coming weeks, there will be many news stories on the renaming of the Sears Tower.
Posted by: gle
A "Tribune" article today states the Willis group realizes it wasn't such a good idea to try to re-name the Sears Tower. They should have paid attention to what happened with Marshall Field's. Messy's should pay attention to what happened with Marshall Field's too.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun-willis-jun07,0,7632153.story
Posted by: Mary A
We visited Chicago this past week, but skipped shopping on State Street. We have Macy's back home and I don't like them there either.
Posted by: drew
The Pittsburgh Penguins are again in the Stanley Cup Finals and Pittsburgh fans wildly support their home town teams. I stopped at macy*mart in a large suburban Pittsburgh mall this afternoon. Of course, the store was pretty much deserted as I walked around looking for Penguin merchandise. I found a few cheaply made polyester long sleeve jerseys with a Pens logo. When a salesperson approached me, I asked where the Pens jerseys and T-shirts were located. The salesperson said, "We really didn't get anything in for the playoffs." (One would think with all the excitement generated by the Stanley Cup Finals, that macy*mart would have a major promotion of Penguin items.)
Posted by: Judy M.
Well, it's time for the black tie event we attend every year, which means I need to shop for a gown! Of course, there's no way I'll wear a gown to the same place more than once, so I have to make a decision as to who will get my hard earned money. I would have immediately run to Marshall Field's, but obvliously, I can't do that anymore. I went to Lord & Taylor and Norstrom, but didn't find anything I liked. No other option, really. So I went on-line and ordered a saree from India. I could have found something just as exotic and beautiful at Marshall Field's. IF it was still here. So, Macy's has now forced me to send my money out of the country. Just another way Macy's is helping the economy. Not that our friend Terry would care.....
Posted by: John D.
Father's Day is quickly approaching, Field's Fans. While we are making tremendous strides in bringing back the store we knew as Marshall Field's, Von Maur is a good alternative we have today. There are three suburban Chicago Von Maur stores, plus about 20 VM stores scattered in major cities throughout the Midwest.
http://www.vonmaur.com/default.aspx?Function=Product&ProductID=16326&cat=77,109
Posted by: Jim McKay
Monthly numbers are out and Macy's May same store sales are down 9.1%--that's 0.2% better than expected and better than the double-digit declines of some of its competitors, including Carson's parent Bon-Ton which was down about 13%. Of course, these figures don't break out the numbers for the Chicago area where it's entirely possible that Carson's is doing better than Macy's.
Sometimes one gets the impression that, in (Sam Zell's) vision, the Chicago Tribune is an advertising bulletin, advertisers are his clients, and if Macy's spends a fortune on ads, this might be justification for spicing up the bulletin with some pure journalistic work.
The full op-ed piece is at : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/henryk-a-kowalczyk/the-perfect-test-that-the_b_153554.html
Posted by: Robert
I just wanted to say thank you for all you are doing to bring Marshall Fields back!! I live in Indiana about 3hrs away from Chicago, I love to visit Chicago. This last pole taken on Michigan ave and State street was great! What did suprise me is that afew people said they would shop less at Fields? So much for class or wanting some kind of variety since macy mart is everywhere. I guess they must never shoped Fields. I read in Jim's post that terry was saing frango mints are being made in Chicago... WELL WHO CARES!!! I only bought them because they were MARSHALL FIELDS FRANGO mint chocolates. Taking the Fields name off the box and the exp date = no sale. Fannie May gets all my candy business, I love the fact that they are not nation wide and have been in Chicago since 1920. When I travel to different cities I like to stop at local favorite places these are getting harder to find but they define the city they are in, that is what Fields did for Chicago. I don't know any one who when to Chicago and didn't go to Fields BUT I know alot that will not go to macys. I was in Chicago on a saturday 2 weeks before Christmas and looked down at the tree from the 8th floor to see the Walnut room less than half full at 1:00pm. In 2005 I waited 4hrs for a table, shopping at Fields it only seemed like 40 minutes. Thanks again for everything you do in the name of Marshall Fields!!!
Posted by: J.C.
Here's an example of how, after seven years of public outcry, a favorite brand has been restored. Heck, Lucky is a fine enough brand, but it doesn't even begin to compare with all thet Marshall Field's stands for. If a store like Lucky can be brought back successfully, it's very clear that Field's can come back. Field's was so many more times greater.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_12515552
Posted by: drew
Want to bet that Mr Lunkhead's "solution" will be to cut services, reduce merchandise offerings, slash employees--which will give customers even FEWER reasons to visit macy*mart.
http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2009/06/01/daily50.html?ana=yfcpc
Posted by: Pete
Reading Jimmy Gimbels' post from last Friday about NBC5's survey results is very fascination. It lends
further credibility to the stats of the survey presented by this web site.
Posted by: drew
Yet another critical downgrade for macy*mart, purveyor of "expensive unneeded items."
http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2009/06/03/1-star-stocks-poised-to-plunge-macys.aspx
Posted by: Zelda
Returning from a trip overseas, I walked the long ramp to Passport Control which has exhibits and images about Chicago, such as the great Seurat painting of the Isle of the Grand Jatte at the Art Institute. I was thrilled to see a lovely wall devoted to great Chicago pioneers Potter Palmer and Marshall Field. Those of us active in FieldsFansChicago are not alone in our appreciate of those who brought us so much. I am grateful there are others safeguarding our heritage, in the exhibits at O'Hare, the Chicago History Museum and many other places around town, and I'm convinced that what the recent survey showed is absolutely true: Field's was special; Macy's is no match; and WE WANT OUR MARSHALL FIELD'S BACK!
Posted by: Mitch
It's been a while since I've posted, but I do read this every morning.
Posted by: Jim
A bit of history I've not seen discussed in years is the old Marshall Field's warehouse on Polk Street at the South Branch of the Chicago River. Like the State Street flagship, the warehouse was also designed by Daniel Burnham. It was completed in 1904 and was after several owners acquired by the US Postal Service in 1974. Fifteen years ago it was torn down to make way for the new main post office which is bordered by Harrison, Polk, the Chicago River and Canal. Curiously enough, the US Postal Facility on this very same spot houses the post office box for FieldsFansChicago.org and is the post office from which many of the "I Want My Marshall Field's" buttons are mailed.
Posted by: JasonM
I started a conversation on Yelp about the survey. Pretty interesting to see what people are thinking.
http://www.yelp.com/topic/chicago-chicago-still-hates-macys
Posted by: barbara p
I, too, absolutely ADORED AND LOVED Marshall Field's and miss it so very much. Macy's doesn't come close to Field's.
Posted by: Jim
One thing to clarify about Field's status as the "number 3" destination. This was according to Marshall Field's own literature circa 2005 and into 2006. It was also featured at fields.com and macys.com until about 2007. And the phrase that they used was "number three destination." I think they included locals as well as tourists and internationals.
Posted by: T.L. in St. Louis
My grandparents met each other while they were working at Marshall Field in the early 1930's. My father was born in Chicago and my husband and I and our two boys are planning a visit to Chicago this summer. We will walk through the store wearing "I want my Marshall Field's" buttons but will not shop. We do not shop Macy's in St. Louis also because of what they did to Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
Here's a little tid bit quietly relased on May 27:
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
OH NO, NOT ANOTHER FAILED PROMOTION FROM MACY'S!!!???
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
Interesting poll about Marshall Fields. Here is an item from the Field's "way back" machine:
Posted by: drew
Since FAO Schwarz toys will no longer be offered at macy*mart, perhaps they can work out an "Everything's $1" department that is more in line with their discount store image:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Toys-R-Us-acquires-highend-apf-15370223.html?.v=12
Posted by: Allison Evans
The History Press (opening another location in Chicago this summer) is looking for people who are not only passionate about Marshall Fields, but also someone who can write its history in demonstration of its cultural significance to Chicago and the nation. We focus exclusively on publishing works of local and regional interest, typically brief histories of towns and regions; however, we have recently experienced the success with department store histories, such as our book, Under the Clock:The Story of Miller & Rhoads. If you or anyone you know is qualified to write a history of the beloved Marshall Fields, we would love to speak with you. Please visit our website, www.historypress.net for more information or contact me directly.
Posted by: gle
The "Sun-Times" has an update on the story of FAO Schwarz leaving Macy's--with a new comment blog.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1596440,fao-schwarz-closing-macys-chicago-052809.article
Posted by: Jim McKay
I think the acquisition of F.A.O. Schwarz by Toys "R" Us sets a great precedence that Field's could come back in this economy and that such a deal is viable.
I disagree that FAO is a loser. It is a great store. People have a fondness for it as a special destination. FAO has had problems simply because they over-expanded a few years back, and in the process, overexposed themselves.
Posted by: gle
FAO Schwarz contract with Messy's will end in November.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-toys-r-us-fao-schwarz,0,5584803.story
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1596236,w-toys-r-us-fao-schwarz-052809.article
Posted by: drew
Toys R Us, the new owners of FAO Schwarz, will cancel affiliation with macy*mart:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Toys-R-Us-acquires-highend-apf-15370223.html?.v=12
Evidently being featured at macy*mart wasn't a very profitable venture for FAO Schwarz as Mr Lunkhead's stores never offered enough selection to attract shoppers. Another "exciting" macy*mart "exclusive" has failed!
Posted by: E.M.
I'm still supporting Marshall Field's and STILL refuse to shop at Macy's.
Posted by: gle
The "Tribune" mentions Messy's in this rather interesting bit about sharehoders wanting more voice:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun-exec-paymay24,0,1338424.story
Posted by: Jim
"Webs of Power" is a fiction book based on the real life story of Federated and Macy's circa the late 1980s and early 1990s. Author Darlene Quinn called it "Factional" because the story is largely true but the names, characters and certain other details have been adapted to protect privacy. It gives a lot of insight into the characters behind what ultimately led to Macy's going bankrupt and Federated acquiring Macy's.
Posted by: gle
I started reading "Webs of Power" by Darlene Quinn.
Posted by: S.B.
I was going through some old boxes this weekend... just cleaning things out when I was pleasantly surprised. I found my Marshall Field's charge card. It was a great feeling. When the take-over was first announced I was quite upset and remember walking into the 1st floor of the State Street store and right to the customer service desk. I asked that they close my account. The woman was very sympathetic and asked me to fill out a comment card (which I did). I picked up the phone and closed my account. That week I thought of cutting up the Field's card and throwing it in the trash... but then I must have stopped (even though I don't remember) and decided to hold on to it. I'm glad I did... why let Macy's take away a memory. I haven't stepped into a Macy's since the "conversion" and never will. I have fond memories of State Street Field's and I would hate to see what it looks like today. If I don't go in... I'll always have the most amazing of memories. Hopefully one day this will all change and I can swing open the doors of 111. State Street and once again walk into the world class, Chicago style department store known as Marshall Field's!!!
Posted by: LiMack
On Saturday we saw Shakespeare's play, The Tempest, at Steppenwolf. As many of you know, one of the main characters is Ariel, a spirit or nymph who is useful because he is completely invisible to almost everybody. Sitting there in the theatre that night I had an epiphany! Those mysterious customers Terry Lundgren keeps talking about to the press and shareholders---the ones that he claims are making Macy's so successful on State Street--- are invisible!! They must be. Because you sure don't ever SEE many actual shoppers in the store formally known as Marshall Fields.
Posted by: drew
This is in response to Jim's comment about Filene's Basement and other closeout stores. I _believe_ that Filene's Basement (which was NOT connected with the former Filene's department store the past few years) has been in bankruptcy protection. They closed a number of their stores, including some that were only recently opened. Filene's Basement was affiliated with Value City stores, which totally liquidated its operations within the past year or so.
Posted by:
Posted by: MarshallFieldsFrangos
Marshall Field's Frango chocolates always featured that beautiful and recognizable fine Marshall Field's font on the outside of every Marshall Field's Frango chocolate box.
Posted by: JasonM
Terry needs to realize that shopping is an "emotional" experience... if that wasn't the case, we'd all shop at Walmart. People want to be wowed, people want to feel like they're part of an experience (like shopping at historic Field's), people want to feel proud (this is our hometown department store)...
Posted by: Jim
"WEBS OF POWER" is a "factional" book about three women connected with department store giant "Consolidated" as it makes a hostile bid for yet another regional department store chain.
For more information on "Webs of Power", Ms. Quinn and her appearances, please visit http://booktour.com/author/darlene_quinn
Posted by: Jim McKay
I wanted to give a brief rundown of what happened at the Macy's stockholders meeting last Friday, May 15 in Cincinnati.
Posted by: Jim
Updated Tribune and Sun-Times articles on HartMarx. Be sure to leave comments!!!
Posted by: Jim
Back as recently as April 17, 2008, Sandra Guy (in the Sun-Times) reported that a big reason HartMarx was struggling was the loss of Marshall Field's (and sister May Department Stores) as a customer when these stores were bought out by Macy's.
Posted by: A Field's Fan
A couple of "articles" hyping Macy's Memorial Day Sales. You can leave comments without registering.
Posted by: R.M.
To me, the Marshall Fields store will always be forever. I have never shopped at Macy's nor do I ever intend to. If they put the Marshall Fields store back on State street (doesn't have to be anywhere else) which is the real true historical store of Chicago, I would shop at both Marshall Fields in downtown Chicago on State street & I would shop at a Macy's in the suburbs. All the city has to do is bring Marshall Fields back to State street where it truly belongs forever.
Posted by: BCESm Kula, HI
Hurray! I want "Marshall Fields"!
Posted by: Larry
We live in Seattle but refuse to shop Macy's because of what they did to Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Chad's submission offers a chance to raise some issues that Macy's doesn't directly address.
Posted by: Chad
Marshall Fields lost money its final 10 years. Yes, Marshall Fields provided a higher level of customer serivce no doubt about it, but somewhere along the line they forgot to make money. Business is business, and businesses do not go under from making to much money. Macy's does not desire to lose money, just to pamper its customers. They want to take care of its customers while making money so that they are there in the future. I know this will never be posted, but it is important to realize Macy's isn't Marshall Fields. Macy's wants to make dare we say... a profit. They owe it to their shareholders not to be a money losing operation like Marsall Fields!
Posted by: B.M.
My sisters and I grew up in MF territory, the near southwest Chicago suburbs, and have since moved all over the US. NO STORE has ever had a comparison to MF and we all miss it. Macy's doesn't even come close.
Posted by: L.M.
We are in Chicago quite often and really miss Marshall-Fields!!
Posted by: Michael M.
I don't know which one of you kooky fieldsfans people thought of the survey but with all the play it got I really think you turned the corner, this really hit them where they live ......kudos
Posted by: Jim McKay
Regarding Mr. Lundgren's plans for Macy's outlet stores. I don't think this is all that much of a stretch. First of all, I've noticed that TJX's Marshall's carry Macy's private labels. Second, there are existing furniture outlets stores that have proven successful. I'm thinking of the home outlet at Pulaski and Diversey that Field's operated for years. I'm not so sure how it's doing now that it moved out to Aurora.
Posted by: Richard in Houston
I read the article posted by Drew on Monday. It made me laugh when I read Lunkhead's plan for the possiblity of "outlet" stores like Nordstrom and Saks. The current incarnation of Macy's IS an outlet store.
Posted by: gle
The chairman's remarks from Messy's annual shareholders'meeting of May 15, 2009 are now available on the www.macysinc.com website.
http://www.macysinc.com/Investors/annualmeeting/
This is obviously Lunkhead's view of things. It might make some people sick, especially those who have acquired a different view from going inside former-Field's and former-other stores that have been transformed by the "magic of Messy's." Read with an airsick bag nearby.
Posted by: JasonM
Email General Growth the Survey! They own a lot of malls in Chicago including Water Tower and they need to know that Chicagoans are not shopping b/c it's Macy's.
http://www.ggp.com/Contactus.aspx
Posted by: S.B.
What great press nearly three years later! People still care, Macy's executives cannot hide from this one. Great job everyone... we're continuing the push to return Field's to 111. N State. (still haven't stepped into a macy's, never have... never will)
Posted by: Michelle
Over the weekend, Target sponsored activities surrounding the opening of the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute. While I was relieved to know that Macy's was not able to shoulder its way in to promote itself, I was thrilled to hear some Target executives on hand apologize to people who expressed dismay that Target allowed Marshall Field's to fall into Macy's hands.
Posted by: Joe
TheDeal.com has an article from last week on Macy's and Terry Lundgren "searching for the right mix of stores and strategy" after "raising the ire of loyalists of iconic downtown stores such as Marshall Fields in Chicago."
http://www.thedeal.com/corporatedealmaker/2009/05/macys_continues_search_for_the.php
Posted by: Mike R., Romeoville, IL
Glad to see things still going strong here!
Romeoville, IL
Posted by: Ms. Clarke
I was traveling over the weekend and I was struck how everywhere I went there was a Macy's. Why in the world would I trek to Chicago and State Street when there is a Macy's in every half-way big town between here and Cleveland?
Posted by: Rich W
Following up on Darrid's observation that stores in the M*cy's wing of Woodfield were closing, the same holds true for Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee. The M*cy's wing is almost completely vacant now, with large stores empty and dark. The Sears, Penney's, Kohl's and Carson's wings seem to be doing just fine. Another way that M*cy's appears to be having a negative impact on the local economy. Just as State Street has less foot traffic these days because of the red star store, many local malls are suffering the same fate.
Posted by: drew
Mr Lunkhead is evidently becoming even more delusional as his grand macy*fication scheme goes down in flames:
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10501983/1/macys-ceo-attempts-to-calm-fears.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
Perhaps he can SAVE $400 million through more cutbacks in staffing and merchandise offerings, but how will the company ever make a profit if people aren't spending money in his stores? Retailers earn profit by selling merchandise that shoppers want to buy. Since shoppers obviously aren't buying and money isn't coming in, how can cutting back on expenditures do anything except delay the inevitable.
Posted by: Anonymous
There's some interesting comments after this article.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/
around_town/shopping/Chicago-Still-Hates-Macys-Marshall-Fields-Friends-Survey.html?corder=&pg=1#comments
Posted by: Paul R
Field's was all about service. Macy's has cut service severely. It's not the same store.
Posted by: Mary A.
It's quite curious how little press the Macy's stock holders meeting has gotten at all. It's like Macy's has told the media to lie low.
Posted by: Carolyn L.
I wish I could have taken the survey. I would have slammed Macy's big time.
Posted by: Sharon Robinson
For Macy's to have been able to succeed in the Chicago area, they would have had to have been better than Marshall Field's on some points and as good on most everything else.
Posted by: Steve
Another version of the article previously noted at MSNBC.com--only this one has an open comments board. No registration required.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/around_town/shopping/Chicago-Still-Hates-Macys-Marshall-Fields-Friends-Survey.html?corder=&pg=1#comments
Posted by: Rich
Hi All
Posted by: Simpsonite
Hello Fields Fans,
Posted by: J.D.
The survey results should come as no surprise to anyone.
Posted by: Darrid
There's another interesting and telling sign at all of the local malls, even Woodfield. The mall entrances by Macy's stores have several shops outside of them and at almost every mall these shops have closed. I'm sure Marshall Field's foot traffic helped keep these businesses going, but with people avoiding those areas, foot traffic has dropped.
Posted by: gle
am happy to read on this website the preliminary results from this week, both with the Field's Fans' survey and the newspaper links from the Messy's shareholders' meeting. All my friends and co-workers are pestering me for results. No-one I know is cheering for Messy's.
Posted by: P.A.
I support this movement.
Posted by: Field's Fan
MSNBC article on the survey.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30770283/
Posted by: Zelda
Hi Field's Fans:
Posted by: Susan S.
I share the sentiments of all the others who have posted here. I grew up in the Milwaukee suburbs and spent a good portion of my life at the Marshall Fields there. However, wheneve
r I got a change, I went to the 'real' Fields on State Street. When I grew up and moved to New England, I still came back to Chicago as often as possible and a highlight was always
Marshall Fields. I still haven't been able to throw away my charge card! I still love Chicago and visit often for other things, but would NEVER go to that 'vanilla, empty' building
, formerly known as..... In fact, I have not shopped at any Macy's, in any location, since the takeover.
Posted by: S.B.
Macy's struggles are partially because of the economy. We all know the economy is affecting retailers. What Macy's doesn't understand is that once things pick up consumers will still
not be shopping at Macy's. Why would they? They didn't shop there in the good days (when Nieman's, Sak's, etc. sales were surging).
Posted by: Gayle
Reading the results of the survey really made me think. I have not shopped at Macy's since the takeover, which is a no-brainer. What really did surprise me, though, is when I thought
long and hard about the impact Macy's destruction of Field's had on my shopping habits in general.
Posted by: Mike M
Fantastic job with the survey! It is clear that there is plenty of money to be made if Marshall Field's is brought back. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Pete
Field's supporter Daniel Harcourt at today's Annual Shareholder meeting is quoted in the Dayton Business Journal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/05/11/daily73.html
Posted by: Richard in Houston
I have not shopped at Macy's since the conversion from Field's and Foley's. Fields had an awesome website for those of us who no longer had the privilege of the brick and mortar stores. Far, far superior over anything macy's has or May Co. for that matter. I still do not believe that the Midwest and Texas are generating their largest sales. It's funny how Messy's can tell analysts in one instance that they do not break down sales in individual stores yet they can tell you which regions are supposedly doing well.
Posted by: A.G.
Thank you all for your update survey on Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Phil
I shop there less too. As in not at all. I don't want My Macy's. I want My Marshall Field's.
Posted by: EM
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECENT EMAIL YOU PEOPLE SENT TODAY REGARDING MARSHALL FIELDS. I WAS A LONG-TIME CUSTOMER [ I AM 65] AND SHOPPED AT FIELDS SINCE I WAS A CHILD. IT WAS A REAL PART OF MY LIFE. I HAVE NOT STEPPED FOOT IN ANY OF THE CONVERTED, CHEAP, SHABBY MACYS.
I NEVER WILL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INFO AND UPDATE. EM
Posted by: Gail F.,Jacksonville, IL
Marshall Field's is Chicago and I refuse to buy anything from our nearby Springfield store. I go to Bergner's and have never gone into Macy's since the change. I would settle for Field's to be in Chicago only and they can put Macy's on any other old store.
Posted by: Joanne in Indiana
Q: Did you ever shop at Macy's?
Posted by: George Miller
I read with great interest the results of the survey. Not surprising!
Posted by: David P.
Spurred on by spring cleaning- actual spring-like weather and a decent IRS refund check, I found myself wanting to shop again. Sadly, I was once again faced with the reality that Marshall Field's is no longer an option.
Posted by: gle
A press release from the macysinc.com website declares a regular quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share on Messy's common stock:
"Macy's, Inc. Board Declares Quarterly Dividend"
Cincinnati (Business Wire) May. 15, 2009
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1288795&highlight=
Posted by: gle
I read through the transcript of Messy's 1st quarter results conference call from the "Seeking Alpha" website.
Posted by: MJ-bos
Just got the note that Downtown Dog is closing the boutique in the basement of State Street.
Posted by: drew
Evidently shareholders are finally realizing that there is NO "magic of macy*s":
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090514/BIZ01/905150349/1055/NEWS/Sales+results+temper+Macy+s+meeting
Too many accounting tricks and "flash in the pan" schemes (the latest called "my macy*s") cannot compensate for a faulty business plan. Cutting staff and merchandise selection is a short term fix which will result in long term damage.
Posted by: JasonM
I think the return of Marshall Field's to 111 N. State, the finalization of Block 37, and Millennium Park would have made State Street a Great Street. Just imagine everyone would be going from the Metra/Amtrak trains to Millennium Park and would pass the Apple Store, Marshall Field's to make their way to "The Bean." One could only hope.
Posted by: gle
"Crain's" website contains a stock market article that mentions Messy's:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=34028
Posted by: drew
Kohl's has evidently become a "star performer," leaving macy*mart in the dust:
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10501037/1/kohls-outshines-department-stores-update.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
Posted by: gle
"Seeking Alpha" has a transcript of the Messy's May 13, 2009 Q1 2009 conference call. There is a comment blog with free registration. Some Field's Fans already have passwords from previous posts.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/137516-macy-s-f1q09-qtr-end-5-2-09-earnings-call-transcript?source=email
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-wall-street,0,7695507.story
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu-wall-0514-may14,0,7881509.story
Posted by: Mike M
On the heels of losing Apple and a few other high-profile stores that had considered Block 37, the Block 37 developers have landed a Puma store.
Posted by: Paul F
New Trib article re Macy's sales + comments.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-earns-macys,0,7306875.story
Posted by: Jim McKay
I was able to listen to part of the Q & A portion of the Macy's conference call. Everyone sounded very congratulatory but I didn't reallu understand why such major congratulations were in order. The part I heard about innovations in ordering and stock control, etc are from what I can tell the same thing that Field's had when it was owned by Target.
Posted by: gle
There will probably/hopefully be much in the media today about Messy's 1st quarter results.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/137219-earnings-preview-macy-s?source=email
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-earns-macys,0,7306875.story
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-economy,0,7733390.story
http://www.suntimes.com/business/earnings/1571568,w-macys-earnings-loss-profit-051309.article
Posted by: gle
Here are Messy's first quarter results from their website at www.macysinc.com:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1287841&highlight=
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=84477&eventID=2207350
Posted by: gle
he "Sun-Times" reports:
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1568078,w-macys-earnings-profit-loss-051109.article
There is a comment blog to post, with free easy registration.
Posted by: Paul M
Another story on Hart Schaffner & Marx, the local Chicago clothing maker who used to make many of the suits for sale at Marshall Field's.
It's in the Chicago Tribune.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-tue-greising-hartmarx-0512-may12,0,4053056.column
When Marshall Field's became Macy's, they went to other manufacturers, taking business away from the Chicago area.
Posted by: gle
The "Sun-Times" reports:
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1568078,w-macys-earnings-profit-loss-051109.article
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
It's was so beautiful.
Posted by: Rich
Posted by: LiMack
Yesterday while I was out shopping I encountered two different ladies with great Marshall Fields shopping bags. One was carrying a large "Fields green" canvas tote with beige strap handles and the Marshall Fields script. I smiled and said to her "I see from your bag that you haven't forgotten Fields!" She laughed and said, "This is my favorite tote and I baby this bag like crazy." She added, "I really do miss Marshall Fields."
Posted by: Pete
I really get tired of the switch to Macy's being called a name change. It's much more than that. If it were just a name change, we'd see a lot of brands that aare actually gone.
Posted by: gle
"Seeking Alpha" has another analysis on Macy's:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/136284-macy-s-and-whole-foods-thesis-versus-fact?source=email
Posted by: Stephanie K.
I remember when Bloomingdale's opened in Chicago, Marshall Field's ran a really cute ad respectfully welcoming Bloomingdale's to town as a competitor. It showed two little girls all done up for high tea with one saying something like, "Oh, I see you've been down to take a look at Bloomingdale's." It showed how clasy Field's really was.
Posted by: A Field's Fan
April retail numbers are in.
Macy's Inc. saw a 9.1 percent decline in same-stores sales, worse than (the 7.x%) forecast, but boosted its first-quarter outlook.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-retail-sales,0,97850.story
Please comment in the no-registration-required comment forum.
Posted by: g
I heard on the radio today that while many retailers are up, Macy's is down this past April, even moreso than they expected.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0507hartmarxmay07,0,1177388.story
Posted by: A Field's Fan
Today's Sun-Times has an article about the troubles of Des Plaines-based Hart Schaffner Marx. Hartmarx is not only a local business, but the manufacturer of many of the suits sold by Marshall Field's as well as May Department Stores.
Posted by: M.A.S.
I also simply cannot see Bloomingdale's running Marshall Field's. Who's the CEO, President and Chairman of Bloomingdale's? Terry Lundgren. It's been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If Terry Lundgren is so arrogant to kill off Field's to begin with, how can anyone expect him to bring it back as part of Bloomingdale's in the best way?
Posted by: JJ
Has anyone else noticed that the door handle on Washington near Wabash is broken off for the third time since Field's became Macy's? It always takes months for them to notice, and then when they finally fix it, they do such a half-baked job that it breaks again! Well, what could we expect from a store that starts out by laying off maintenance workers? This is just one small instance that stands for hundreds of others. The quality has just gone down down down since Macy's took over. And you can't just blame this on the economy. In boom times and recessions, Marshall Field's kept things up. We could all use a little more Marshall Field's in our lives.
Posted by: Sean C
Okay, so those stencils of Blago going out for his morning flail are up. At my wife's request, during my lunch break I went down to Washington St. to get a picture of the one we knew of for sure.
Posted by: Jim McKay
Regarding Jack's most recent post:
Posted by: Jack
Chicago History Museum Summer 2009 bulletin arrived today. Apparently there has or will be an exhibit AT MACY's "How State Became Great" ....trace the street's transformation from a gritty thoroughfare to an elegant shopping district"
Posted by: gle
I happened to be in Nordstrom on North Michigan Avenue over the weekend, and the first thing I noticed brought back memories of what I used to see at Field's. Here was an attractive, lively store full of people having a good time looking for stuff. Nothing was broken. The floor shined like new. Everything looked clean and new, and made me want to look more.
Posted by: gayle
Hi all,
Posted by: Jimmy Gimbels
So Macy's is having a "Bring Your Friends" sale?
Posted by: B
How Times Change
Posted by: B
I Remember I. Magnin on Michigan
Posted by: Jim McKay
I have to agree: long before Macy's entered the picture with Field's, I have been disappointed with Bloomingdale's and simply cannot see that division successfully running Marshall Field's.
Posted by: Marilyn P.
As usual, I was speaking with someone about Macy's and Marshall Field's. I run a shop on Michigan Avenue and every so often my work requires that I get something from Macy's on behalf of my clients. Let me stop and say there is no way I would buy something from Macy's for myself.
Posted by: Pete
Regarding Mrs W's idea that Bloomingdale's should run Marshall Field's: THAT'S A CRAZY IDEA!
Posted by: Jerry Hund
Everyday I look at my little Marshall Fields mantle clock and wonder when will the time come for macy's to admit it made a mistake and change the names of it former stores back. Theyr'e too stubborn to admit they made a mistake. Until it does bring back Marshall Fields, I will continue to take my business elsewhere.
Posted by: A. Earl
I went downtown on Monday to meet a friend for lunch at the store formerly known as Marshall Field's. As I walked in the front door, I could see that Macy's is keeping maintenance and upkeep a top priority. The first thing I saw were "traffic cone orange" pyramids warning against wet floors. As I walked further into the store, I noticed the Baccarat crystal department was curtained off and being dismantled. Another casualty of the Macy's transition, nonetheless.
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