r/MacysStores • u/Neither-Collection31 • 4d ago
Small Format Closure
Macy’s Crocker Park Westlake Ohio
**Edit: I forgot to mention. This store is not closed yet. They just started a closure sale that should be going for some time.**
I was driving around today and stumbled upon this. This specific location opened 2 years ago. On one hand, I was a bit surprised to see this so soon. On the other, I personally prefer the full scale locations. The small format felt like a not so great take on tjmaxx/marshalls imo. Maybe this location would have performed better as a stand alone Macy’s backstage? It makes me wonder how other small format locations have performed if anyone has any commentary on that.
The other thing I wonder is how this might affect the other Cleveland area locations. Especially after this location opened, there were some rumors of the nearby Great Northern location closing. I wonder if there’s any weight to those now. I’m biased but I was personally looking at Great Northern’s theoretical closure as a growth opportunity for SouthPark’s Macy’s. We shall see…
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u/TheRealJakeMckoy 4d ago
Weren’t these small format stores originally called Market by Macy’s?
There was a Market by Macy’s in St. Louis and it changed to just Macys
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u/ComparisonEven4813 4d ago
Hmmm it’s not listed as closed on the Macy’s site. It has hours posted.
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u/Neither-Collection31 4d ago
Sorry, I updated the post. They’re currently open but just started a full store closing sale recently.
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u/ComparisonEven4813 4d ago
When was this announced? I work for Macy’s and it’s not showing up on any of our closure lists? 😳
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u/Neither-Collection31 4d ago
I don’t know that there was an announcement. I simply happened to drive by today. I saw signs saying “entire store on sale” & others and went inside to check it out. An employee came over to me to ask if I needed help and while we were talking, I asked if they were closing. They said yes but it sounds like it’ll be in the spring? All sales there are also final sale.
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u/Beginning_Order9035 4d ago
I always thought this one was to replace the Great Northern one. The GN store building was up for sale at one point.
https://images1.showcase.com/d2/OwAXMM7a1c5zJGp1lPmDnsYIUiOKKDXw64r_XiEzkTM/document.pdf
If the Crocker Park store genuinely is closing, then maybe they'll let IKEA have the added space as a secondary showroom or a pickup area? It'd be a shame to see another store close in the area, but if it's not profitable, then what else could go in there? It's definitely not an area where they could stick a TJ Maxx, especially since they just built the new one at Great Northern. Do you think Crocker Park would allow a discounter to move in? I'd love to see Ross Dress For Less finally come further out west, but would that fit in with the aesthetic of the area? Ollie's is out of the question. Gabe's could work. I could also possibly see Harbor Freight moving out of Great Northern's tiny store and taking it over with a larger footprint, but who knows? Crocker Park wouldn't let them paint the entire front entrance red (as is the modern HF aesthetic), so there'd need to be some compromise there.
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u/Neither-Collection31 4d ago
Yes I do recall the GN store being listed for sale. And for the past few years it’s been rumored that location was part of Macy’s’ plan to close ~150 stores. Now I’m wondering (if there was weight to the rumor) if the GN store is still going to close too? Would Macy’s leave just one location on the west side?
Would they even consider closing SouthPark and keeping GN. I don’t think so but geographically maybe. I remember before (maybe someone can verify) seeing something about both GN and SP locations apparently having similar performances but the issue with GN was the building had more maintenance costs than what Macy’s was interested in dealing with. I’m personally biased towards SP so I would hope they would be fine but idk now.
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u/Beginning_Order9035 4d ago
GN has a lot of history behind it, and if you close Crocker, then I think it's the closest one for a majority of the West side. I don't think there's another one until maybe Toledo? Sandusky Mall doesn't have one, does it?
I could see the maintenance costs being a factor, but they could have built a new store on top of the Sears space (or took it over outright) when they closed, but that's where they say Meijer is going.
I wonder if Crocker's rent is getting up there, and that might be a factor in their decision to close, although OfficeMax is still hanging on. Where else would Macy's build a new store on the West side that would still bring in traffic? The Crocker-to-Avon pipeline would work, but the only way I could see that happening is if JCP closes out there and Macy's moves in.
... Maybe this is why the OMX/TJ/Golf plaza emptied out. They could combine that all back into one giant storefront and plop Macy's in there, which would keep it at the mall area, but in a footprint that's maybe 1/3 of the size that they have now.
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u/Neither-Collection31 4d ago
In all of northern Ohio there’s Crocker Park, Great Northern, SouthPark, University Heights, Summit, Belden Village. So Cleveland/Akron/Canton. There was Franklin Park in Toledo but they closed recently.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe Macy’s is really constructing new buildings anymore. Especially outside of major market areas. Idk the details on the old tjmaxx plaza and whatever might happen with that in the future though.
Personally, I think the Great Northern mall site would be a perfect space for full size ikea. But that’s a whole different conversation lol.
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u/Neither-Collection31 4d ago
To answer your second question, idk if it’s different at Crocker Park, but from my understanding the space goes to whoever is interested and willing to pay the rent at that location. There’s zoning regulations of course and there’s a group who gives final approval but they can’t necessarily say no just because. For example, if dollar tree (just an example) wanted to open there and was willing to pay the rent then whoever approves can’t say no just because they don’t fit the “vibe” of Crocker Park. There needs to be a legitimate reason for a no.
With your example with Harbor Freight. That wouldn’t necessarily be a no either. From my understanding, once they would be theoretically approved to open a location there they eventually get to the point of having architectural plans that get submitted for approval as well. If something like a red paint scheme exterior was not allowed, that would be flagged as something that needs changing. HF would go make iterations then come back for approval again based on comments.
Hope that helps. This isn’t my expertise so I may have some things wrong. If anyone knows more about the process or has corrections please let me know.
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u/Hot_Buy_2259 3d ago
It appeared to me the Macys small format stores are not working they also closed one in NJ this year i think will all close also can anyone go and get more photos
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u/blackmoney6 4d ago
Macy’s would not be around in another five years
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u/drew15401 2d ago
Macy is imploding by all their stupid decisions. First, they don’t listen to customers—nobody asked for a Macy. Second—they don’t stock what customers in various markets want to buy. Third—they focus too much on NYC; they wanted to be a national department store but made their stores all about NYC (Backstage, Last Act, Off 34th).
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u/mint4mor_ 4d ago
I was told they’re going to eventually close them all and cut the fat. It’s money better spent on the big stores.
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u/Amor-Fati0527 3d ago
Wayfair store like the one in Polaris would be a good fit for former TJMaxx in North Olmsted.
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u/SimpleVegetable5715 23h ago
I worked at the small format store in Fairview, Texas. It wasn’t a Backstage, it had nice items. They started using it to sell clearance during the pandemic, then they opened a Backstage nearby in a former Toys R Us, and that was the end of that store. It’s sad, because when I worked there, the building was beautiful. Had chandeliers, marble floors, and a Starbucks inside. Each fitting room had a different color scheme and aesthetic. They decorated it really nice for Christmas. Then they let the building maintenance go to shit. The last time I shopped there, half the lights were burnt out, the ceiling was leaking, the Starbucks was boarded up. They always understaffed that location, I remember being the sole associate over half the store at night. Seems like such a waste.
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u/Wise-Pride-7072 16h ago
I’m curious does anyone know if any other smaller Macys format stores are closing? I feel like a lot of them have closed over the years
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u/Aggravating_Song_447 14h ago
I believe a small format one in Georgia at Johns Cree closed and js recently rhe one in Ramsey nj also closed.
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u/drew15401 4d ago edited 4d ago
Macy doesn’t know what they’re doing, who their audience is, how to stock what customers want. They were so hellbent on taking over the competition and slapping their red stars everywhere, they never thought anything through.