Macy's

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Location & Contact:

151 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-695-4400
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Description:

No one would have guessed that the small, fancy dry goods store that opened on the corner of 14th Street and 6th Avenue in New York City in 1858 would grow to be one of the largest department store retailers in the world.

But after several failed retail ventures, Rowland Hussey Macy's determination and ingenuity paid off at the age of 36 with the launch of R.H. Macy & Co. He adopted a red star as his symbol of success, dating back to his days as a sailor. First-day sales totaled $11.06 but by the end of the first full year, sales grossed almost $90,000. By 1877, R.H. Macy & Co. had become a full-fledged department store occupying the ground space of 11 adjacent buildings.

Always the innovator, Macy's is known for several firsts that changed the retail industry. Macy's was the first retailer to promote a woman, Margaret Getchell, to an executive position, making business history. Macy's pioneered such revolutionary business practices as the one-price system, in which the same item was sold to every customer at one price, and quoting specific prices for goods in newspaper advertising. Known for its creative merchandising, Macy's was the first to introduce such products as the tea bag, the Idaho baked potato and colored bath towels. Macy's also was the first retailer to hold a New York City liquor license.

By November 1902, the store had outgrown its modest storefront and moved uptown to its present Herald Square location on Broadway and 34th Street, establishing an attraction for shoppers from around the world. With the store's 7th Avenue expansion completed in 1924, Macy's Herald Square became the "World's Largest Store," with more than 1 million square feet of retail space.

Hours:

Monday: 10:00AM - 9:30PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM - 9:30PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM - 9:30PM
Thursday: 10:00AM - 9:30PM
Friday: 10:00AM - 9:30PM
Saturday: 10:00AM - 9:30PM
Sunday: 11:00AM - 8:30PM