Overview

Macy's is an American department-store brand operated by Macy's, Inc. Its business combines stores, e-commerce, private-label merchandise, vendor brands, beauty offerings, home products, and seasonal retail experiences. The company traces its origins to 1858, when Rowland Hussey Macy opened R. H. Macy & Co. on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. After expanding in New York, the retailer established its best-known location at Herald Square in 1902. The flagship eventually grew to occupy much of a city block and became one of the world's most recognizable department stores. Macy's developed through a mixture of organic expansion, regional acquisitions, store conversions, and merchandising innovation. During the twentieth century it acquired or absorbed numerous local department-store operations, including Bamberger's, Davison's, and other regional chains. The company also experimented with distinctive retail presentation, including holiday windows, in-store events, private-label apparel, and customer-service guarantees. Its red star identity became a durable part of the brand's visual language. The retailer experienced a major financial restructuring in the early 1990s after a leveraged buyout and Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. In 1994, R. H. Macy & Co. merged with Federated Department Stores. Federated subsequently used Macy's as a national nameplate, consolidating multiple regional banners under the brand. The 2005 acquisition of The May Department Stores Company accelerated this strategy. In 2006, many former May banners—including Filene's, Kaufmann's, Hecht's, Marshall Field's, Famous-Barr, Foley's, and Robinsons-May—were converted to Macy's, giving the chain a nationwide footprint. Federated changed its corporate name to Macy's, Inc. in 2007. Macy's remains primarily a United States retailer, with stores also operating in Puerto Rico and Guam. Its assortment generally spans women's, men's, and children's clothing; shoes; accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; jewelry; furniture; bedding; kitchenware; housewares; luggage; and seasonal merchandise. Brand positioning sits between mass-market and luxury department stores: Macy's seeks broad household reach while emphasizing fashion, recognizable national brands, promotional events, credit and loyalty programs, and exclusive or private-label merchandise. The business has faced the structural challenges affecting department stores generally, including competition from specialty retailers, off-price chains, digital marketplaces, and changing consumer shopping habits. In response, it has emphasized omnichannel shopping, store productivity, digital fulfillment, smaller-format concepts, loyalty, and selective portfolio changes. Macy's is also a cultural and civic brand. It has presented the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York since 1924 and has sponsored the city's Fourth of July fireworks since 1976. These events reinforce its visibility beyond ordinary retail and connect the name with holiday traditions, entertainment, and New York City. Sister brands within Macy's, Inc. include Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury, although those businesses retain separate identities and positioning.

History

Rowland Hussey Macy had attempted several retail ventures before opening R. H. Macy & Co. in Manhattan on October 28, 1858. The first store stood on Sixth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, north of the established dry-goods district. Macy used conspicuous merchandising and advertising practices to distinguish the business, including decorated windows, seasonal displays, a store Santa Claus, and customer guarantees. The company expanded into neighboring properties and added departments as its customer base grew. It also produced some made-to-measure garments in an in-house facility. Macy died in 1877. After the deaths of his early partners, ownership remained with the Macy family until 1895, when Isidor Straus and Nathan Straus acquired the company. Under the Straus family, the retailer continued its growth and moved its principal store to Herald Square in 1902. The new location was initially remote from other major dry-goods stores, but improvements in transportation and the store's expanding scale helped establish it as a major New York shopping destination. Subsequent additions spread the complex across much of the surrounding block. The Herald Square building was later recognized for its architectural and historical importance, including listing on the National Register of Historic Places and designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1978. Macy's began adding branches outside its original Manhattan location in the twentieth century. It expanded in the New York area and acquired regional operators in cities including Toledo, Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, and Kansas City. After the company moved beyond its traditional New York and Long Island territory, it opened and acquired stores in markets such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and California. This expansion also brought the Macy's name into contact with many established regional department-store identities. The company underwent severe financial difficulty in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A leveraged buyout was followed by an unsuccessful takeover contest involving Federated Department Stores and the Campeau Corporation. Macy's acquired several Federated assets as part of the resulting arrangements, but its financial position deteriorated. It filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 1992. A new management team closed underperforming stores, reduced the luxury I. Magnin operation, and reorganized the company around Macy's East and Macy's West. In December 1994, Macy's merged with Federated Department Stores. Federated moved the combined company's headquarters to Cincinnati and gradually used Macy's as a national retail banner. Regional operations such as Abraham & Straus, Jordan Marsh, Broadway, Bullock's, and other chains were absorbed, renamed, or repositioned. The strategy became substantially larger after Federated agreed in 2005 to acquire The May Department Stores Company. Following regulatory review and integration, hundreds of May stores were converted to Macy's in 2006. The converted banners included Filene's, Kaufmann's, Famous-Barr, Foley's, Hecht's, Marshall Field's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge & Clothier, and others. Federated adopted the corporate name Macy's, Inc. in 2007. During the twenty-first century, Macy's continued to operate as a national department-store chain while extending its presence to Puerto Rico and Guam and investing in digital commerce. The company has had to respond to declining traffic in some traditional malls, competition from online marketplaces and specialty chains, and consumer demand for convenience and value. Its responses have included omnichannel fulfillment, loyalty and credit programs, private-label development, store remodeling, smaller-format concepts, and changes to its store portfolio. The Herald Square flagship remains the brand's symbolic center, while the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Fourth of July fireworks provide major national visibility. Macy's currently operates as the principal department-store brand of Macy's, Inc., alongside the separately positioned Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury businesses.

2012
Herald Square renovation begins
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
The company commenced a major renovation of its historic flagship store.
2007
Federated adopts the Macy's, Inc. name
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
The parent corporation changed its name from Federated Department Stores to Macy's, Inc.
2006
May stores converted to Macy's
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
Hundreds of former May Department Stores locations adopted the Macy's nameplate.
2000
First Puerto Rico store
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
Macy's opened a store at Plaza Las Américas in San Juan.
1994
Merger with Federated Department Stores
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
Macy's merged with Federated, which later developed the Macy's name into a national department-store banner.
1992
Chapter 11 restructuring
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
R. H. Macy & Co. sought bankruptcy protection and undertook a substantial operational restructuring.
1976
Fourth of July fireworks sponsorship begins
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
Macy's began sponsoring New York City's annual Fourth of July fireworks.
1924
Thanksgiving Day Parade begins
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
Macy's began presenting its annual Thanksgiving parade in New York City.
1902
Herald Square flagship opens
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
Macy's moved its principal New York store to Herald Square at West 34th Street and Broadway.
1858
R. H. Macy & Co. opens in Manhattan
[1]Macy'sen.wikipedia.org
Rowland Hussey Macy opened the store that became Macy's on Sixth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets.

Products and positioning

Broad-reach American department store with mid-market to upper-mid-market fashion, home, beauty, and lifestyle merchandise, supported by national brands, private labels, promotions, and high-profile seasonal experiences.

Retail assortment · 1858
Macy's department-store assortment
Macy's sells a broad range of national-brand and private-label merchandise, including women's, men's, and children's apparel, footwear, accessories, jewelry, beauty products, furniture, bedding, bath goods, kitchenware, luggage, and seasonal items. The assortment is designed to make the store a multi-category shopping destination rather than a specialist retailer.
Private-label apparel and accessories
INC International Concepts
INC International Concepts is a Macy's private label associated with contemporary fashion apparel, footwear, and accessories. It supports the retailer's effort to offer exclusive products at accessible fashion price points and is distributed primarily through Macy's channels.
Private-label apparel and home
Charter Club
Charter Club is a Macy's private brand offering apparel and selected lifestyle or home merchandise. Its positioning emphasizes classic, versatile styling and department-store value across recurring seasonal collections.
Flagship retail store · 1902
Macy's Herald Square
The Herald Square store is Macy's symbolic flagship in Manhattan. It occupies a very large historic complex and combines the retailer's broad merchandise offer with architectural features, holiday presentation, special events, and high tourist visibility.

Controversies

2021
Lawsuit against Macy’s over alleged delivery-driver assault
In 2021, a Queens woman filed a lawsuit against Macy’s and two trucking companies, seeking $50 million. According to the filing, a delivery driver sexually assaulted her during a mattress delivery. The suit named the retailer and the two trucking firms as defendants. The report describes the claim as an allegation and does not state a verdict, settlement, or other outcome. No further details about the parties, the delivery, or the litigation are provided in the source summary.
Source
2020
Macy’s sued over alleged use of facial-recognition software
An Illinois woman filed a proposed class action against Macy’s in federal court in Chicago, alleging that the department store chain violated Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act by using Clearview software to identify shoppers from security-camera footage.
Source
2020
Macy's faces backlash over parade tweet
Macy's faced criticism after a Thanksgiving Day tweet described the Zeta Phi Beta Centennial Steppers as a "diverse dance group." The tweet was later deleted. The description drew backlash, and the deletion followed the criticism. No further details about the response or its outcome were provided in the source.
Source
2019
Macy’s discloses customer data security incident
Macy’s informed affected customers of unauthorized code added to two pages on macys.com that could capture information submitted on the checkout and wallet pages. The company said the code was removed on October 15, 2019, and that affected customers would receive identity protection services at no cost.
Source
2019
Macy’s discloses customer data breach
Macy’s disclosed that an unauthorized third party added code to two pages of macys.com on October 7, 2019, capturing payment and customer information submitted by affected customers. The company said it removed the code on October 15.
Source

Marketing campaigns

1976Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks
United States
Macy's sponsorship of New York City's Independence Day fireworks connected the retailer with a large public celebration and gave the brand a second major annual event beyond the Thanksgiving season.
Outcome. Established a long-running civic and entertainment association for the brand.
Source
1924Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
United States
Macy's began presenting the New York Thanksgiving parade in 1924. The event developed into a nationally recognized holiday broadcast and a major brand platform featuring floats, balloons, performers, and seasonal retail visibility.
Outcome. Became one of Macy's most recognizable institutional assets and a recurring national holiday tradition.
Source

Brand decisions

2012
Renovate Herald Square flagshipOther
Background
The historic flagship required modernization while retaining its landmark character and role as the center of Macy's public identity.
Action taken
Macy's began a comprehensive renovation of the Herald Square store, working with Studio V Architecture on the overall master plan.
Aftermath
The project modernized parts of the flagship while prompting debate about contemporary interventions in a historic building.
Source
2005
Acquire The May Department Stores CompanyM&A
Background
Federated sought greater national scale and access to regional department-store markets through the acquisition of May Department Stores.
Action taken
Federated agreed to acquire May in a stock transaction and subsequently announced that many May banners would be converted to Macy's.
Aftermath
The integration created a much larger national Macy's footprint, although the replacement of locally established names such as Marshall Field's, Filene's, and Kaufmann's generated criticism in some communities.
Announced transaction value. $11 billion (2005 announcement)
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
Reported2026.09.11
Macy's second-quarter results shaped by reimagined stores, brand expansion, and tariffs[9]梅西百货第二季度业绩受门店焕新、品牌扩张及关税影响news.google.com
Macy's second-quarter results were shaped by the company's reimagined stores, brand expansion, and tariff impacts, according to a Q2 deep-dive report.
Unconfirmed
Reported2022.02.03
Wetzel's Pretzels opens a kiosk at Macy's South Coast Plaza[10]Wetzel's Pretzels 在 Macy's South Coast Plaza 开设售货亭qsrweb.com
Wetzel's Pretzels opened a bakery kiosk inside Macy's South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California; it is the first Wetzel's Pretzels kiosk in a Macy's store.
2022.01.05
Reported2022.01.05
Macy’s temporarily reduces store hours nationwide[11]梅西百货暂时缩短全美门店营业时间foxbusiness.com
Macy’s temporarily reduced store hours nationwide amid a surge in coronavirus cases, with Monday-through-Thursday hours set to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the remainder of January; Friday-through-Sunday hours were unchanged.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
2021.11.29
Reported2021.11.29
Le Bread Xpress installs Bake Xpress at Macy's Westfield Valley Fair[12]Le Bread Xpress在Macy's Westfield Valley Fair安装Bake Xpressprweb.com
Le Bread Xpress announced that Macy's Westfield Valley Fair installed a custom-branded Bake Xpress robotic micro-bakery, offering shoppers in-store meals and snacks.
2021.10.28
Reported2021.10.28
Concorde Print & Design partners with Macy's on holiday window graphics[13]Concorde Print & Design与Macy's合作制作节日橱窗图案prweb.com
Concorde Print & Design was awarded the project to provide custom vinyl window graphics for Macy's State Street storefront holiday display; installation was planned to begin November 3.
2021.09.30
Reported2021.09.30
Macy’s sues to block Amazon billboard ad[14]梅西百货起诉阻止亚马逊看板广告newsbreak.com
Macy’s went to court seeking to block Amazon from advertising on a billboard adjacent to Macy’s flagship store in Manhattan.
Unconfirmed
Reported2021.09.30
Macy’s sues over billboard advertising rights[15]Macy’s 就广告牌广告权提起诉讼dailymail.com
Macy’s filed a lawsuit against the Kaufman Organization in Manhattan’s State Supreme Court, seeking to stop it from leasing billboard space adjacent to Macy’s flagship store to Amazon or another competitor. Macy’s claims its original lease bars competitors from advertising on the space; the dispute had not been adjudicated in the supplied article.
2021.09.27
Reported2021.09.27
Market by Macy’s announces Flower Mound store opening[16]Market by Macy’s 宣布将在弗劳尔芒德开店dallas.culturemap.com
Macy’s announced that its Market by Macy’s format will open a store at the Highlands of Flower Mound shopping center on October 29.
2021.08.20
Reported2021.08.20
Macy’s announces planned Backstage store opening in Frisco[17]梅西百货宣布计划在弗里斯科开设Backstage门店dallas.culturemap.com
Macy’s announced that a Macy’s Backstage location at The Centre at Preston Ridge in Frisco was scheduled to open on September 18.
2021.07.04
Reported2021.07.05
Empire State Building partners with Macy’s for July 4 fireworks[18]帝国大厦与梅西百货合作呈现7月4日烟花表演prnewswire.com
The Empire State Building partnered with Macy’s for the July 4 fireworks celebration, with fireworks launched from the building as part of the show.