Downtown Brooklyn Macy's to close: 'It's a sad moment'
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN (PIX11) -- Macy's is set to close five New York City locations over the next three months as part of its nationwide cutbacks.
Of course, Macy’s Herald Square won’t be affected, but the Macy’s department store in Downtown Brooklyn that is beloved by so many longtime Brooklynites will be shuttered.
“I’m very sad because I have been shopping here since I was a little girl,” said Elizabeth Martin, a Macy’s shopper. “I used to come with my parents and grandparents, so it’s a sad moment."
The building has been on Fulton Street since 1885 when it was first the Abraham & Straus department store, otherwise known as A&S.
But now it is on the list of 66 Macy’s stores across the country deemed “underproductive” that will be closing in the first quarter of 2025.
There were no mannequins or clothing displays in the large front windows, with few shoppers on the main floor inside for a Saturday afternoon. There was just one sign saying that the Macy’s location was closing, but customers can still go to the Kings Plaza Macy’s in Marine Park miles and miles away.
“I will miss it,” said Shirley Powell, a longtime Macy’s shopper.
To many retail experts, the closing of the Fulton Street Macy’s is not surprising.
Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge said it is more about the legacy store not keeping up with the times than it is about its location in Downtown Brooklyn.
“Retailers need to be innovative right now, offer something consumers can’t get online,” said Bodge, the smart shopping expert at truetrae.com. “Retailers need to focus on the indoor experience. There are 200 stores in the area and lots of restaurants. The stores that are closing are the problem."
More than 200 Macy's employees in the Downtown Brooklyn store will be losing their jobs, something Lincoln Restler, the area’s New York City Council member, is concerned about.
“I’m relieved the new ownership intends to maintain a retail use in this space, and we will do our best to help the workers transition to new opportunities,” Restler said.
The exact closing date for the Macy’s store hasn’t been announced, and shoppers are hoping for some very big sales before then.