When Federated (now Macy's, Inc.) decided to turn Marshall Field's into Macy's, the entire goddamned city said, "Don't do it, idiots. We will stop shopping there."
Federated said, "Nonsense! We've done it in several other cities with no problem! You say you won't shop at Macy's, but we know better!"
The entire goddamned city said, "Dudes, this is Chicago. And you are coming in here with your New York store and fucking with Marshall Field's. And if you don't get what those two things mean, then you really, really don't get your market here."
Federated said, "Ha! We'll see about that!"
Well, they saw about that. Chicago Carless catalogues the mind-boggling string of fuck-ups by the Chicago Macy's, including their declining sales, store closures, and recent fruit fly infestation at what used to be the best food court in the city. It's delicious reading for locals -- and anyone else who hates big corporate entities who think they can increase profits while refusing to take into account the human beings needed to purchase their wares.
Like so many Chicagoans, I was raised loyal to Field's. And I mean loyal. Like, there was no other department store worth bothering with, period. (Is that remotely reasonable -- especially when Field's had already changed hands repeatedly, and the quality and service were declining for years before Macy's ever came along? No, of course not. But it is what it is -- a simple fact for a whole lot of us.) After I moved away, I would go to Field's State Street and drop a bundle every time I came to visit. When I moved back, I was giddy about being able to go down there and wander around the awesome flagship store any time I felt like it. And I brought my credit cards.
I've spent money on clothes there once since it became Macy's, and then only under duress. The only other money I've given them in the last year has been at the food court -- and that's clearly not gonna happen again now.
Dear Macy's, Inc.,
Dudes, this is Chicago. You came in here with your New York store and fucked with Marshall Field's.
And now you're scrambling to keep it open.
Are you getting the local market yet?
Love,
Kate Harding
P.S. I spent $300 at Nordstrom yesterday.
(Cross-posted.)
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