An End of an Era

Today, 09/09/06, Marshall Field's officially converted to Macy's. It's very sad. I already cut up my credit card. It does not make much sense to me, especially since basically it is like converting a B department store to another B department store. It's not like they upgraded to Neiman Marcus or anything. Besides, Macy's is an East Coast thing whereas Field's is definitely a Chicago thing. They had articles on how this entire week, people were mobbing the stores for Marshall Field's paraphernalia. Sad. In a move to appease the Midwesterners, Macy's is in the middle of attempting to bring back Frango production to Chicago. Two in one chance that's going to fall through. Besides, who wants that red/white striping on the Frango box? And with Carson Pirie Scott closing its State Street store, there's not much from the Loop heyday era left. Hm, I wonder how Macy's will pull off the windows this year.

Regardless, Macy's tried to celebrate with all the pomp and circumstance it could muster...holding ribbon cutting ceremonies at each store, passing out $10 gift cards, serving subpar standard coffee. They ran out of $10 gift cards early. The ribbon cutting ceremony was purely for show as many of the displays and store layout were basically the same. The only difference was the signage which had turned from green to the red and white. The show was entirely unnecessary because as soon as one walked in the store, all the merchandise was the same...even the same clearance sales. Oh dear. What kind of department store has clearances on the first day of opening? Macy's, that's who! Tacky.

This was sent to me by email earlier this week: (by Rebecca Little)

Marshall Field’s (1852 - 2006)

Marshall Field’s, 154, died peacefully this week at its State Street home. One of the world’s first department stores—and prior to its death, second only in size to Macy’s—it cemented itself as a premier shopping destination around the slogan “Give the lady what she wants.”

The store was credited with many retail firsts, including inventing the gift registry, incorporating restaurants into the shopping experience, hosting book signings, and offering credit to customers. It cultivated a reputation for style and exclusivity by creating separate men’s and women’s lounges and the designer 28 Shop.

Born in 1852 to Potter Palmer, it was first named P. Palmer & Co. It went through several name changes before being renamed for its adoptive father, Marshall Field, in 1881. The store opened at its State Street location in 1868. It burned to the ground twice (once during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and later in 1877), and went through a few incarnations before 1907, when the current 12-story, block-wide store was completed. In its long life, it went through a series of affairs. It was first purchased by BATUS Retail Group in 1982, a union that lasted eight years, before it was sold to Dayton Hudson Corporation, later renamed Target Corporation. Its latter years were plagued by relationship troubles, with the store being sold twice in as many years. In 2004, a purchase by May Department Stores lasted just one year before Federated Department Stores, the parent company of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, took over.

Aw, sad. Marshall Field's was my case study in AP US History my junior year of high school. It rocked.

Say Goodbye to...Field's

Okay, so I haven't really dumped anything from my closet...but I haven't really bought any clothes. However...I recently went on a shoe shopping spree. Marshall Field's, which will be changing over to Macy's later this summer, usually holds a clearance sale about this time. It is different than Field Days because their clearance sale is usually about getting rid of this season's merchandise whereas Field Days is merely discounting this season's merchandise.

Usually they have great formal dresses on sale...two years ago I bought a black and pink formal dress originally selling for $260 for $19.97. Actually I bought two, but I returned one out of guilt. But what they also have, which is a cannot-miss, is this incredible shoe sale. I hit three Marshall Field's this past weekend and netted nine new pairs of shoes. With coupons for 20% off every item, it was truly a good shopping deal. I ended up spending less then a total of $200, especially since full prices would have totaled past $600. I ended up getting three pairs of Indeed shoes, two pairs of Nine West shoes, a pair of BCBGirls shoes, two pairs of Bandolinos, and a pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes. There are 7 pairs of black shoes, one brown, and one blue. Hm...I think I'm set for life. Or, just for next season. I really hope that once they change over to Macy's, Macy's will be smart enough to follow the same sale pattern as Field's does.

Marshall Field's ----> Macy's??

It's almost official. Federated Department Stores, Inc. announced today that they plan on changing all of their Marshall Field's stores into Macy's stores by fall of 2006. What might seem to be considered an economical move by the Cincinnati-based company is seen as a blow to many Chicagoans. For many of us, Marshall Field's is a landmark that we all grew up with and enjoyed. We eagerly await the unveiling of the Christmas windows every year. The clock on State Street serves as an obvious meeting place for all. And while the city harrumphed over Block 37 and revived the theatre district just north of the department store, Marshall Field's stoically stood on, calmly marking the passing time.

Marshall Field's may lack the basic flair of Neiman Marcus or Von Maur. But what it has is of historic proportions. The Walnut Room. The signature green bags and logo. Select shopping was started at Field's before it became a consistency throughout all department stores. Frango mints. No other department store has those shopping traditions that all Chicagoans have come to recognize.

For myself, my spiel in retail started at Marshall Field's. Although that has long ended, I still have my discount card from when I was an employee. And the secret to hitting Woodfield? There is never a line at the Field's women washrooms. Stupid, yes, but have you ever stood for 30 minutes waiting for a stall in Woodfield? I rest my case. And for Macy's? Doesn't that belong in New York?