Poll: Will you shop at the downtown Macy’s more than you used to?
A few days ago the downtown Macy’s store in the Railway Exchange building had a reopening event:
The store is shrinking to three floors from seven at the Railway Exchange but will carry more clothing for office workers and more housewares targeted at residents of downtown lofts and apartments. Gone are the store’s furniture department and two restaurants. All 134 store employees remain. (Source)
The store was packed on Thursday! Looking around the housewares department it is clear a car-free downtown resident could get everything needed to stock a loft kitchen, including a stock pot. I’m more likely to buy clothing at a thrift store than a department store so I can’t speak to the selection of men’s clothing.
My poll question this week asks “Will you shop at the downtown Macy’s more than you used to?” I hopefully have covered all the possible answers but if not supply your own. Â The poll is in the upper right of the blog.
– Steve Patterson
For me, living and working in SW city, the Macy’s at the Galleria and West County are both more convenient, plus parking is easier. I know that’s not urban PC, but they’re also closer to other stores like Crate and Barrel, Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot, unlike Macy’s downtown, so I minimize my driving by picking a retail node and, unfortunately, leaving my sales taxes in the county. And yes, when it comes to shopping, I’m gonna drive – hauling stuff home on Metro is simply not a part of the equation!
For me, living and working in SW city, the Macy’s at the Galleria and West County are both more convenient, plus parking is easier. I know that’s not urban PC, but they’re also closer to other stores like Crate and Barrel, Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot, unlike Macy’s downtown, so I minimize my driving by picking a retail node and, unfortunately, leaving my sales taxes in the county. And yes, when it comes to shopping, I’m gonna drive – hauling stuff home on Metro is simply not a part of the equation!
Traffic blows in those suburban areas as does walkability. There’s always parking near Macy so this is non sequitur.
What works for you (and others) may not work so well for me, and vice versa. That’s the whole point of this poll – “Will YOU shop at the downtown Macy’s more than YOU used to?” (emphasis added). One, I rarely shop at any Macy’s, so I tend to shop at one that is most convenient to me. I don’t view it as making any big urban or suburban statement, I’m just trying to accomplish a task as easily and painlessly as possible. Not much different than picking the Hampton Village Walgreens over the one in Brentwood, Maplewood or Soulard. Two, my not picking to shop at the downtown Macy’s isn’t a knock or a value judgement against either the particular store or downtown in general; it’s just a personal choice, one based on the assumption (and past experience) that the stock will be pretty consistent among locations. And I’m even less likely to shop at the ones in Fairview Heights, South County or Chesterfield locations, simply because they’re even further away – it doesn’t mean that I hate them even more. Three, I agree that traffic “blows” around pretty much every suburban shopping area; it also “blows” downtown – what’s your point? Pick the wrong times and it’ll be frustrating; pick the right times and it’ll be tolerable. Four, I agree that both walkability and bikeabilty are better downtown, as is public transit. Again, what’s your point? I choose to drive, as do most customers. That’s a whole separate discussion from what size the store is or how it’s stocked inside – once you’re inside the door, it doesn’t matter how you arrived. And five, parking, for those of us who choose to drive, IS very much a case of perception IS reality. Parking downtown may be a non sequitor for you, but for me, and many others, it’s an added, but not insurmountable, hassle. If it takes me 10-15 minutes to drive to the Galleria, West County OR downtown, and the shopping experience is identical or very similar inside the store (which it will be with this remodel), the only remaining variable is how to get from my front door to the store’s front door. Driving and parking is my personal choice; I guess that makes me a knuckle-dragging Luddite – so be it. Using transit and/or walking appears to be your personal choice – so be it. All Macy’s really cares about is that we both darken one of their doorways and spend some cash! This isn’t a poll about urban PC-ness, this is a poll about the potential / continued success of one retail location in a national chain, following a significant remodel and downsizing. The bottom line IS the bottom line – if the investment doesn’t retain existing customers, and attract new ones, pressure will mount to close this location, which WOULD be unfortunate, but not unprecedented . . . .
It would be nice to see Papa FaBarre’s reopen in a downtown storefront.
It would be nice to see Papa FaBarre’s reopen in a downtown storefront.
Living in Shaw I found it more convenient to shop at St. Louis Center after it opened than to head out to the Galleria. Deteriorating mix of stores (and products) coupled with safety issues, and early closing hours contributed to decline. But I totally stopped when they stopped validating parking for purchasers. If the store is to survive it may need a wider pool of shoppers than those who are normally downtown and some of these problems still exist esp parking. For instance would you buy a comforter and walk 10 blocks with it to your loft? Or a set of pans? Or haul them back to your office to take home? Many wouldn’t!
Living in Shaw I found it more convenient to shop at St. Louis Center after it opened than to head out to the Galleria. Deteriorating mix of stores (and products) coupled with safety issues, and early closing hours contributed to decline. But I totally stopped when they stopped validating parking for purchasers. If the store is to survive it may need a wider pool of shoppers than those who are normally downtown and some of these problems still exist esp parking. For instance would you buy a comforter and walk 10 blocks with it to your loft? Or a set of pans? Or haul them back to your office to take home? Many wouldn’t!
A lot of people in big cities make big purchases and have them delivered.
Traffic blows in those suburban areas as does walkability. There’s always parking near Macy so this is non sequitur.
A lot of people in big cities make big purchases and have them delivered.
I would like to see an IKEA open up downtown, although the major hurdle would be location, space and parking/loading area.Â
I would like to see an IKEA open up downtown, although the major hurdle would be location, space and parking/loading area.
I love Ikea, I’ve shopped at six different stores over the last 20 years. That said, I would strongly oppose an Ikea downtown. Their stores are not urban at all so a downtown location would be destructive.
I love Ikea, I’ve shopped at six different stores over the last 20 years. That said, I would strongly oppose an Ikea downtown. Their stores are not urban at all so a downtown location would be destructive.
The changes hurt the store, but the overall failure of issues such as transit and city building are not considered. I am old enough to remember when the streets around Macy’s were packed. Policy changes made it preferable to abandon downtown. It is not capitalism, as the recent rate increase proposal from MSD indicates, claiming they are 5th in the nation in miles of sewers. How can that be with a city at 52 in population (or worse considering only the MSD coverage area).
This is coupled with MoDot at a similar high number of roads to maintain compared to the rest of the nation (I can’t remember, but it was as obscene as MSD figures recently released)
Wild infrastructure across the region, a failure in city and regional planning has given us the truncated Macy’s of today.
The truth is the people living in the suburbs are not truly paying for their la la land. Thus Macy’s, along with many other businesses pay the price for the suburbs.
Yes, I will continue to shop at Macy’s. Although closing access from the adjacent garage is a pain in the ass.
The changes hurt the store, but the overall failure of issues such as transit and city building are not considered. I am old enough to remember when the streets around Macy’s were packed. Policy changes made it preferable to abandon downtown. It is not capitalism, as the recent rate increase proposal from MSD indicates, claiming they are 5th in the nation in miles of sewers. How can that be with a city at 52 in population (or worse considering only the MSD coverage area).
This is coupled with MoDot at a similar high number of roads to maintain compared to the rest of the nation (I can’t remember, but it was as obscene as MSD figures recently released)
Wild infrastructure across the region, a failure in city and regional planning has given us the truncated Macy’s of today.
The truth is the people living in the suburbs are not truly paying for their la la land. Thus Macy’s, along with many other businesses pay the price for the suburbs.
Yes, I will continue to shop at Macy’s. Although closing access from the adjacent garage is a pain in the ass.
What works for you (and others) may not work so well for me, and vice versa. That’s the whole point of this poll – “Will YOU shop at the downtown Macy’s more than YOU used to?” (emphasis added). One, I rarely shop at any Macy’s, so I tend to shop at one that is most convenient to me. I don’t view it as making any big urban or suburban statement, I’m just trying to accomplish a task as easily and painlessly as possible. Not much different than picking the Hampton Village Walgreens over the one in Brentwood, Maplewood or Soulard. Two, my not picking to shop at the downtown Macy’s isn’t a knock or a value judgement against either the particular store or downtown in general; it’s just a personal choice, one based on the assumption (and past experience) that the stock will be pretty consistent among locations. And I’m even less likely to shop at the ones in Fairview Heights, South County or Chesterfield locations, simply because they’re even further away – it doesn’t mean that I hate them even more. Three, I agree that traffic “blows” around pretty much every suburban shopping area; it also “blows” downtown – what’s your point? Pick the wrong times and it’ll be frustrating; pick the right times and it’ll be tolerable. Four, I agree that both walkability and bikeabilty are better downtown, as is public transit. Again, what’s your point? I choose to drive, as do most customers. That’s a whole separate discussion from what size the store is or how it’s stocked inside – once you’re inside the door, it doesn’t matter how you arrived. And five, parking, for those of us who choose to drive, IS very much a case of perception IS reality. Parking downtown may be a non sequitor for you, but for me, and many others, it’s an added, but not insurmountable, hassle. If it takes me 10-15 minutes to drive to the Galleria, West County OR downtown, and the shopping experience is identical or very similar inside the store (which it will be with this remodel), the only remaining variable is how to get from my front door to the store’s front door. Driving and parking is my personal choice; I guess that makes me a knuckle-dragging Luddite – so be it. Using transit and/or walking appears to be your personal choice – so be it. All Macy’s really cares about is that we both darken one of their doorways and spend some cash! This isn’t a poll about urban PC-ness, this is a poll about the potential / continued success of one retail location in a national chain, following a significant remodel and downsizing. The bottom line IS the bottom line – if the investment doesn’t retain existing customers, and attract new ones, pressure will mount to close this location, which WOULD be unfortunate, but not unprecedented . . . .
Both Macy’s (downtown) and Culinaria are important to making downtown an attractive residential neighborhood, much like how Schnuck’s, JC Penney and Target are important to making Hampton Village / St. Louis Hills / Lindenwood Park an attractive residential neighborhood. The unspoken question is whether or not having basic retail downtown is important to the larger city or region? I’d argue that, yes, outside of the actual neighborhood, it is, since downtown is also our major transit hub. While most consumers have access to their own transportation, those that don’t have to rely on Metro, especially if they live in a neighborhood that is not well-served by traditional retailers, since most suburban retail nodes are not well-served by public transit. Which raises an interesting question – do those of us who drive have any sort of moral or social duty to patronize downtown retail, even if it’s more difficult, to preserve access to quality retail by those who rely on public transit? Or, would these consumers be better served if transit were improved to other retail nodes, where prices are lower?
Both Macy’s (downtown) and Culinaria are important to making downtown an attractive residential neighborhood, much like how Schnuck’s, JC Penney and Target are important to making Hampton Village / St. Louis Hills / Lindenwood Park an attractive residential neighborhood. The unspoken question is whether or not having basic retail downtown is important to the larger city or region? I’d argue that, yes, outside of the actual neighborhood, it is, since downtown is also our major transit hub. While most consumers have access to their own transportation, those that don’t have to rely on Metro, especially if they live in a neighborhood that is not well-served by traditional retailers, since most suburban retail nodes are not well-served by public transit. Which raises an interesting question – do those of us who drive have any sort of moral or social duty to patronize downtown retail, even if it’s more difficult, to preserve access to quality retail by those who rely on public transit? Or, would these consumers be better served if transit were improved to other retail nodes, where prices are lower?
They have committed TREASON against St louis. I say we boycott them, or they can just re-locate the historic restaurant to street level like some other commenter suggested. I am outraged.
They have committed TREASON against St louis. I say we boycott them, or they can just re-locate the historic restaurant to street level like some other commenter suggested. I am outraged.