Join the Parade in Giving Thanks to Macy's

Macy's is doing some things right.

When the store bought out its largest competitor, St. Louis-based May Department Stores, in an attempt to become a national chain, the critics said it was a bad idea.

Now the chain is riding a wave of positive publicity, such as this article in the New York Times (which mentions St. Louis and quotes the Mayor) and this article in the local daily paper. It's also doing some smart marketing moves, including product placement for its women's line on Bravo's Project Runway.

From the Times article:

Terry J. Lundgren, the chief executive of Macy’s parent company, Federated Department Stores, flew to Los Angeles, where he agreed, at the mayor’s reuest, to build a Macy’s at a mall in North Hollywood. In Chicago, he promised to resume local manufacturing of the famed Frango mints at Marshall Field’s. In St. Louis, he vowed to keep the downtown Famous-Barr store open, despite years of poor sales.

“When you are a company of our size, trying to make the changes we are making, you need a close relationship with local officials,” Mr. Lundgren said in an office at Macy’s Herald Square store in Manhattan. “You have to get off on the right foot.”

The company could have very easily closed its store in downtown St. Louis; but it chose to keep it open, and to keep it stocked with better merchandise. This is great news for our city as the downtown area continues its rebirth.

Today during lunch, Macy's was sponsoring a block party with music and food to celebrate the opening of their stores in town. I stumbled upon it during lunch. Downtown seems so alive nowadays: I'm very jealous of my friend Miles O'Malley who just bought a loft downtown.

Side note: I don't know the name of the band that played the Macy's Block Party, but the lead singer had hair similar to a wig I've worn for 4 out of the last 7 Halloweens. Very cool.