Marshall Field's vs. Macy's (Chicago, Northbrook: real estate, mortgage, how much)

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by elikhom

I've been there a few times, and I rarely find anything I like, I went for shoes and they have a pretty small selection of men shoes for such a big store, same when I went for other clothes and things, the only thing I find and they have a lot are long sleeved shirts. Now I usually go to stores that are specific for what I'm looking for, whether it's shoes, business clothing, sporting clothing, casual clothing, etc

I agree, I went to Macy's a few weeks ago for shoes (Dr. Martens) and they only had a size 12 when I needed a 11. So I went to DSW shoe warehouse and found a size 11. I paid about $15 more at DSW though, I just can't stand waiting for clothes. If I see it I want it today, I think that most people are like that. But I can agree that their shoe selection is very small for the size of the store.

Macy's has also lost sales to Nordstrom from me. Even though they are more expensive, they do have better service than Macy's does.

They only way that Macy's is going to come out of their slump is to update their stores. I know that many of their older suburban and city stores are not good looking.

[chicagocubs]

I am one of the boycotters, even though I live in Charlotte now. I refuse to go to the local Macy's on principal. They should never have changed the State St. Marshall Field's name nor the overall policies/procedures of the original store. Reading these posts, it appears that I have not lost anything by boycotting the store.

If they were to change it to condos, keeping the overall structure of the original store (and Marshall Field's name, of course), I think that would be cool. There is plenty of retail a few blocks over on Michigan Ave....

[lincolnparker]

Yeah. i dont think the Marshall Field location is heavily visited by shoppers, and the top floor is literally empty with some rugs on display and a big empty second half. That whole place, historical and valuable maybe, just looks rundown and unwelcoming. dont get wrong, the place itself is amazing with the ceiling and columns and all, but its just not feel like an upscale shopping establishment

[Costa Rica Chica]

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

I agree, I went to Macy's a few weeks ago for shoes (Dr. Martens) and they only had a size 12 when I needed a 11. So I went to DSW shoe warehouse and found a size 11. I paid about $15 more at DSW though, I just can't stand waiting for clothes. If I see it I want it today, I think that most people are like that. But I can agree that their shoe selection is very small for the size of the store.

Macy's has also lost sales to Nordstrom from me. Even though they are more expensive, they do have better service than Macy's does.

They only way that Macy's is going to come out of their slump is to update their stores. I know that many of their older suburban and city stores are not good looking.

Their women's selection is huge! I bought some shoes there a few weeks ago and didn't even realize there was a second huge room of shoes!

[dontcallmeshirley]

Can someone explain from a locals point of view what the big ado was about Marshall Fields becoming Macy's. Don't flame me, I haven't moved to the city....yet, so I don't have a rich knowledge of the historical aspects here. Was Marshall Fields in danger of bankruptcy? Would they have gone out of business had Macy's not bought them?

Do tell..And please share your Marshall Field experiences.

[Avengerfire]

This should help you a bit:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...g-chicago.html

Maybe you could delete this new thread as well.

[Avengerfire]

I will never step foot in that Macy's.

[lincolnparker]

So many stores and restaurants and what not have become chains. Sometimes I wonder if I ever really moved to a different city cuz I found the same stores everywhere I went.

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

As a metro Detroiter I had shopped at Marshall Field's for 5 years when it was operating in metro Detroit and Michigan. Anyway, since the name change on State Street in Downtown Chicago I have read numerous articles on the internet and heard from my relatives in Palatine, IL that the State Street Macy's is doing very poor. Is boycotting the State Street store really going to help the city or hurt it? What about if Macy's decides to totally shut down the State Street store and it sits empty as the Hudson's Department store here in Detroit did until it was demolished. I guess the way that I look at it is that yes, Marshall Field's no longer has the beloved Field's name but at least Chicago still gets to keep the landmark department store on state. In Detroit we not only lost the Hudson's name after being in the Detroit market since the 1800's. But we also lost the historic Hudson's flagship store in downtown.

I agree that Macy's should have kept the State Street stores name "Marshall Field's" but whats done is whats done. We are living in a United States were every store, restaurant, and barber shop is owned by a bigger company. So is it really worth it to hurt a landmark? I would love to hear from other people that live in Chicagoland and that are familiar with the topic.

[LittleMartha]

The quality in merchandise has definitely gone down since the switch to Macy's...Even the bags are flimsy and low quality. I don't buy any clothing at Macy's, whereas before I'd occasionally buy clothes at Marshall Field's.

I think the downturn started years ago, when the State Street store was renovated to look more like a mall. I also didn't care for when they created the "mini-stores" (Barbara's Bookstore, Mertz, etc.).

[lincolnparker]

Thats y there is nordstrom, neiman marcus, saks, and barneys

Originally Posted by KardoulaMou

The quality in merchandise has definitely gone down since the switch to Macy's...Even the bags are flimsy and low quality. I don't buy any clothing at Macy's, whereas before I'd occasionally buy clothes at Marshall Field's.

I think the downturn started years ago, when the State Street store was renovated to look more like a mall. I also didn't care for when they created the "mini-stores" (Barbara's Bookstore, Mertz, etc.).