Macy's envy - where do they fit.

[Bob from Omaha]

Like many other "amenities" Omaha has or doesn't, there is a tendency on the part of some to justify the lack of a store, restaurant, etc. In this case, some here are alleging that Macys isn't what it once was, was never what it was made out to be, isn't worth having, is a half step above Kohls, whatever. Others give personal experience of visiting a Macys and basing their opinion on that one experience. Still others make even more outlandish claims.

It reminds me of some opinions of Spirit Airlines...or, to a different extent, Allegiant.

It's all how you play the game, folks. Yes, if you walk into a Macys off the street, expecting a salesperson to run up to you and say "I'm so glad you travelled here! Let me show you all the sales!", you will be disappointed. In our case when we lived in Omaha my wife liked Von Maur. They had what she wanted and the prices when on sale were very good. She also allowed a salesperson to call her when some of her favorite things were about to go on sale. Von Maur does have very good customer service. These days very few stores would consider doing such things. In Macys case we receive their sale flyer with the Sunday paper. My wife also gets Macys sale emails. In addition, my wife does online surveys, spending about 10 minutes a week, where one of the rewards is anywhere from $5 to $20 in Macys gift cards. Again, play the game & it works well.

So Omaha doesn't have a Macys, a Shake Shack, Nordstroms, Saks, Lord & Taylor, mountains, ocean, light rail, what on earth ever, so what?
Know what? New York City doesn't have mountains, but it does have lots of pick pockets, Los Angeles has horrible traffic, Chicago and lots of other cities have horrible housing prices, Atlanta gets extremely hot, Dallas get a little bit of snow but you can't ski on it, Denver is really far from the ocean, there isn't ONE RUNZA in Miami, etc. etc.

So we have Macys here in Detroit. On a basic level the pizza here, the "Detroit Style" pizza, is boring. It tastes ok but it really isn't very creative. We muddle through. When I crave La Casa we make it at home. There are trade offs everywhere. Hey, I've been gone just short of 10 years & I still check this forum pretty much every day. THAT should tell you a lot about Omaha.

[Padre]

So Omaha doesn't have a Macys, a Shake Shack, Nordstroms, Saks, Lord & Taylor, mountains, ocean, light rail, what on earth ever, so what?
Know what? New York City doesn't have mountains, but it does have lots of pick pockets, Los Angeles has horrible traffic, Chicago and lots of other cities have horrible housing prices, Atlanta gets extremely hot, Dallas get a little bit of snow but you can't ski on it, Denver is really far from the ocean, there isn't ONE RUNZA in Miami, etc. etc.

The bad thing about Miami is that it doesn't have a Runza?

[Garrett]

In my young millennial experience, I haven't set foot in a department store in years, nor looked at their options online. The hottest brands for young people these days are things like Zara, H&M, Forever 21, Uniqlo and Top Shop. Uniqlo has expanded rapidly in the coasts and has started making it's way inland, and something like that would be a huge get for Omaha. Similar story with Zara. Macy's is a dying brand: they're even struggling to hold onto their downtown flagships. Something like Nordstrom or Sak's may make it for a longer haul.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Macy's is a dying brand: they're even struggling to hold onto their downtown flagships. Something like Nordstrom or Sak's may make it for a longer haul.

Nordstrom’s, Saks and I’d also throw in Neiman Marcus..

But yes.. I pretty much agree with what you’re saying...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Bob from Omaha]

So Omaha doesn't have a Macys, a Shake Shack, Nordstroms, Saks, Lord & Taylor, mountains, ocean, light rail, what on earth ever, so what?
Know what? New York City doesn't have mountains, but it does have lots of pick pockets, Los Angeles has horrible traffic, Chicago and lots of other cities have horrible housing prices, Atlanta gets extremely hot, Dallas get a little bit of snow but you can't ski on it, Denver is really far from the ocean, there isn't ONE RUNZA in Miami, etc. etc.

The bad thing about Miami is that it doesn't have a Runza?

It's hard to argue with 80s during the day & 50s at night in February. I'm sure there are more things about Miami that are bad but South Beach...

[bigredmed1]

Miami is ok as long as you are rich enough to afford the good neighborhoods.

[SwedishChef]

I'm going to hop in and give my perspective as a late-20s female. Macy's, to me, is a tired and dying brand whose best days are far behind it. They are hardly distinguishable from Younkers; the few times I've been in one they had outdated finishes, cluttered and unorganized racks, and dirty floors. And for the handful of times I'd even walk into a department store, I'd want it to be a Nordstrom or something of that tier (like a Saks), so that I'm guaranteed great service and a pleasant shopping experience. I already bypass all the local department store options and buy online, because save for occasionally Von Maur, Omaha doesn't offer the styles and quality of clothing I want. I can speak for many of my peers who feel the same way.

I doubt Omaha gets something like a Nordstrom though, considering we already have a Von Maur and we aren't the type of market Nordstrom typically targets.

I'll continue to do the vast majority of my shopping online, and I don't see that changing.

[RockHarbor]

I literally could care less if Omaha has or doesn't EVER have a a Macy's after this convo. I'm so glad to know that it has nothing to do with any sort of "snobby snub" from that store -- not that I would have really cared if it was. I'm sorry; If you can open a department store in Casper, WY, and cater to a town that is probably mostly casual, and the majority of people go home to houses w/ sage in the yard, and a rustic/western Navajo throw on the couch, and a coyote head on the wall, you could open a store anywhere, nor could justify snubbing any town, imo. Their stuff sounds no better than Yonkers or Dillards to me. Next time I hear some girl squeel "Macy's!!", I'll think "Oh, gimme a break. What is the big deal?"

[GrandpaaSmucker]

I'm sorry; If you can open a department store in Casper, WY, and cater to a town that is probably mostly casual, and the majority of people go home to houses w/ sage in the yard, and a rustic/western Navajo throw on the couch, and a coyote head on the wall, you could open a store anywhere, nor could justify snubbing any town, imo.

I have vacationed in Casper a number of times. Its beautiful actually! Its tucked right behind the NW end of the mountain and the scenery wastes anything you could find in Nebraska. Watching the sun set on Casper from from my hotel balcony is always a treat. The mountain struts up rapidly behind Casper and the shadows slowly creeping through the canyons and over the mountain as the sun sets is pretty cool. I enjoy Casper and have always used it as a last breath of civilization before heading on to Yellowstone Park.

[RockHarbor]

I'm sorry; If you can open a department store in Casper, WY, and cater to a town that is probably mostly casual, and the majority of people go home to houses w/ sage in the yard, and a rustic/western Navajo throw on the couch, and a coyote head on the wall, you could open a store anywhere, nor could justify snubbing any town, imo.

I have vacationed in Casper a number of times. Its beautiful actually! Its tucked right behind the NW end of the mountain and the scenery wastes anything you could find in Nebraska. Watching the sun set on Casper from from my hotel balcony is always a treat. The mountain struts up rapidly behind Casper and the shadows slowly creeping through the canyons and over the mountain as the sun sets is pretty cool. I enjoy Casper and have always used it as a last breath of civilization before heading on to Yellowstone Park.

Yes, I think Casper is a beautiful setting w/ that long mountain to the south of it. Ive beem there before. I like Wyoming and worked at Grand Teton NP for a summer/fall season. Gorgeous state. I also love western states and enjoy watching westerns quite a bit (it's great when I hear them say "Omaha" in a western movie, as their talk is appropriate to geography & time). I'm simply kinda joking here, but trying to capture the fact (while poking for a fun) that Casper is a very western & casual city & low-key, it isnt that big at all, and doesn't have the "urban sophistication" even found in Omaha. It's a fact. A Macy's opening there does something to their reputation & perception, and therefore, cities like Omaha, Des Moines, and Wichita shouldn't ever feel "not good enough" by a Macy's store not found in their town. P.S. Sometimes I wish the town were called "Jasper, Wyoming." I like "Casper, WY", and I kept analyzing why it sounded appropriately western to me, and I concluded because it sounds like "Jasper." That stone, and stones like turquoise & agate, make me think of the West.

[bigredmed1]

Macy's didn't open a store in Wyoming (in any of the cities in WY). Not a one.

They inherited the stores when a string of small department stores called "Bon Marche" was bought by Federated Department Stores and melded into Macy's as "Bon-Macy's". The name was shortened to "Macy's".

The Bon Marche chain was a western US chain and never made it this far east.

Thus the Macy's in WY but not in NE.

IIRC, Bon Marche was a level of store between Dillards and Penneys. Younkers (or Kilpatricks at the time) would have squeezed them out.

[Uffda]

I have vacationed in Casper a number of times. Its beautiful actually! Its tucked right behind the NW end of the mountain and the scenery wastes anything you could find in Nebraska. Watching the sun set on Casper from from my hotel balcony is always a treat. The mountain struts up rapidly behind Casper and the shadows slowly creeping through the canyons and over the mountain as the sun sets is pretty cool. I enjoy Casper and have always used it as a last breath of civilization before heading on to Yellowstone Park.

Yes it can be very beautiful. Just look out for the wind gusts in the winter time.

[Uffda]

Macy's didn't open a store in Wyoming (in any of the cities in WY). Not a one.

They inherited the stores when a string of small department stores called "Bon Marche" was bought by Federated Department Stores and melded into Macy's as "Bon-Macy's". The name was shortened to "Macy's".

The Bon Marche chain was a western US chain and never made it this far east.

Thus the Macy's in WY but not in NE.

IIRC, Bon Marche was a level of store between Dillards and Penneys. Younkers (or Kilpatricks at the time) would have squeezed them out.

I had kind of forgotten about The Bon. I left in 2000 and have been out to visit a couple of times but a mall visit wasn’t on the agenda.

[iamjacobm]

I have vacationed in Casper a number of times. Its beautiful actually! Its tucked right behind the NW end of the mountain and the scenery wastes anything you could find in Nebraska. Watching the sun set on Casper from from my hotel balcony is always a treat. The mountain struts up rapidly behind Casper and the shadows slowly creeping through the canyons and over the mountain as the sun sets is pretty cool. I enjoy Casper and have always used it as a last breath of civilization before heading on to Yellowstone Park.

Yes it can be very beautiful. Just look out for the wind gusts in the winter time.

That is no joke. Have been a few times for work and one trip it was -28 air temp, I didn’t bother to look at the wind chill. I was not prepared.