Here's a commercial from 1980 that shows, regardless of whether you call it Marshall Field's or Macy's, that department store sold a lot of stuff we wouldn't want to buy in the first place. No Pierre Cardin for us, por favor.
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Results tagged “macys”
"One for the Road:" Marshall Field's Christmas (Again)
Weekend Diversion: Memories Of Christmas At Marshall Field's
From Candy Cane Lane to Santa's Cozy Cloud Cottage, Marshall Field's did Christmas better than any Macy's could.
Gather 'Round the Table - Your Thanksgiving Traditions
On Mondays, we invite our readers to gather around our table and discuss a culinary issue of the day. If you have anything you'd like to talk about, send it to anthony@chicagoist.com
Merz Apothecary Closes Macy's Store, Moves to Palmer House
Merz Apothecary, one of Lincoln Square's longest operating businesses, also had a store in Macy Fields for the past seven years.
Do This: Macy's Free Wine and Seasonal Food Pairing
This Saturday catch a rare opportunity to see Macy’s Culinary Council’s master sommelier Andrea Robinson give a free food and wine pairing demonstration alongside chef Takashi Yagihashi. Robinson will set a foundation for the basics of food and wine pairing while Chef Yagihashi will emphasis the use of seasonal ingredients with these pairings.
Chicago Macy's Boasts Soaring Profits
On the heels of better than expected fourth quarter profits, Macy's says that sales at its Chicago stores are among the top five in the nation, with Chicago sales increasing by double-digit percentages. Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren told the Sun-Times that sales grew "very well" and had "an exceptional performance" last fiscal year at the former Marshall Field's store on State Street.
Chicago Fashion Needs More Focus
Leaking tents and standing water don’t scream fashion show to us. However, on a dark and stormy Thursday night, damp was definitely “in” for the opening of the city-sponsored Fashion Focus Chicago. Fashionistas and photographers huddled in the moist tent in Millennium Park anticipating Chicago designer’s Spring 2010 collections for Macy’s. Before the show began, the presenters apologized for the rain, which had gotten to some of the garments backstage. “Wet is in for Spring,” they joked. The audience chuckled nervously. So what if some pant hems and shoes were a little wet? Well, we forgive them for the weather. But the clothing? That’s another story.
Thursday Diversion: Giant Pianos
Earlier today, we read the news that FAO Schwarz is pulling out of Macy's stores across the country and then we read this. It got us thinking about the most iconic giant piano scene in film history. Unfortunately, we couldn't find a decent version of that scene so we've placed what we found after the jump. Instead, check out this even more impressive, though Tom Hanks-less giant piano demonstration.
Review - Noodles by Takashi
After Chuck visited Marc Burger last week we decided it was about time for us to revisit another of the posh food court offerings of the State Street Macy’s. Macy’s heavily advertises their celebrity chef-driven eateries, but we’ve had bad experiences at a number of their restaurants. The Walnut Room has never been known for its fine cuisine, and we’re still haunted by the memory of the food we ate when we were dragged to Infields, the basement sports bar.
One Great Sandwich: Marc Burger's Marc Burger
Sometimes you just need to check your pride at the door and do what must be done. Which is why we found ourselves Saturday afternoon at Macy Field's, Christmas shopping and looking for a nosh. The Walnut Room is still the Walnut Room, and the seventh floor food court is still dominated by fast food concepts from celebrity chefs. The newest, from Marcus Samuelsson (C-House), is probably the best of a lot that includes Rick Bayless Frontera Fresco and Takashi Yagihashi's Noodles by Takashi. Incidentally, all three chefs are members of Macy's Culinary Council, dating back to the store's days as Marshall Field's.
Making Macy's Wish: A Chicagoist Christmas Charity Challenge
If there's one thing we can be sure of, it's the high level of vitriol with which locals despise Macy's for forcing out Marshall Field's. But now we've come up with a plan that may allow you to get a little bit of revenge and help a charity in the process. Macy's is running a campaign this holiday season called Believe based on the New York Sun's famous 1897 editorial, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." Ha ha. Anyway. Each store is equipped with a "Believe Station" at which the young and young at heart can write a letter to Santa and drop it in the Santa Mail box. For every letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. So that got us thinking: how can we make sure Macy's has to shell out the full cool million and allows us to express our contempt for the store at the same time? Why, by stuffing the mailbox, of course!
Friday Lunchtime Diversion: Macy's Gets RickRolled
We've got a special Macy's-themed post coming up Monday for all of you drinking the Macy's haterade this holiday season, but for now, we'll leave you with this pretty clever clip from yesterday's parade where the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade gets RickRolled. This clip is amazing and we like to think that Matt Lauer and Al Roker were completely flummoxed by it all, whether or not they were in on the joke.
80s Faves to Perform at Macy's Fashion Show
While nothing tops the gravity-defying vertical runway show Marshall Fields busted out five years ago, the Fall fashion event Macy's is throwing this year is getting us almost as jazzed up. The historic department store, now celebrating its 150th year in business, will host an 80s-themed “Pop Candy Arcade” fashion extravaganza this Friday that will feature the store’s new looks, as well as allow us to revel in retro-mania.
More Layoffs at Macy's
For some time now, Macy’s has been sitting quietly in Chicago’s retail corner, attempting to appeal to some kind of market and curb the company’s tumbling earnings, all while attracting minimal attention from pissed off former Field’s customers. But while local department store equivalent Von Maur is doing well, with plans for store expansions, Macy’s continues to trim jobs (it’s called “restructuring,” y’all). The latest: an undisclosed number of support positions across the board at former Field’s stores, with about 10 alteration and personal shopper positions eliminated at the State Street flagship store.
You Gotta Lose Your Mind to Chicago Rock Star Chef City
If, as everyone keeps saying, celebrity chefs are the new rock stars, then food groupies should keep an eye out for Marcus Samuelsson in the upcoming days. Tipster "youattal" wrote that the Swedish superstar, Aquavit owner and Macy's (née Marshall Field's) Culinary Council member is in town today training staff for tomorrow's opening of Marc Burger.
Electronics Now Available in Vending Machines at Macy's
You know when you toss money in a vending machine and then absent-mindedly hit the wrong buttons, and end up with vanilla wafers instead of your coveted Snickers? Or you watch the mini turnstyle spin only to stop just short of dropping your snack, and your Fritos dangle by a thread in front of your face as if to taunt you?
Bank of America: Not Another Macy's
A marketing slip-up in the merger of two large corporations can cause customers to feel angry and betrayed, especially when a company with local ties is being overtaken by a national company. We saw this with the Macy’s corporate take-over of Marshall Field’s, which some are calling this decade’s “New Coke” of marketing disasters.
Macy's Red Goes Macy's Green
It’s with a bit of irony that the company responsible for killing the Marshall Field’s trademark green is now, itself, going green. Earlier this week, Macy’s announced they will be using recycled paper shopping bags at all its stores, as well as biodegradable packaging for online shipments -- all part of Macy’s “commitment to contribute to a more sustainable environment.”
Frango Goes Organic
Launching on Earth Day late next month: organic Frango mints. The Tribune reports that Macy's and Frango producer Gertrude Hawk will make the organic mint chocolates using organic vanilla, organic milk chocolate and organic cane sugar, and that the mints will be packaged in recyclable paperboard boxes printed with vegetable-based inks. Macy's says that the decision to sell organic Frangos is part of an effort "to keep pace with growing consumer demand for organic products."
Chicagoist Weekend Blotter
The warm weather seems to have kept some of our naughty citizens somewhat at bay this weekend, but there was still some activity in Chicago's criminal justice world:
Macy's Shoppers Pleased More with Service
While the Field’s Fans are too busy protesting poor customer service at Macy’s as they long for the days of Marshall Field’s, customer satisfaction for shopping scabs has increased. An annual University of Michigan Study ranking shopper satisfaction among discount and department stores and supermarkets reported Macy’s saw a 5.6% increase in customer satisfaction, ending with a score of 75 out of 100 points. Nordstrom tops the list with a score of 80, only five points between the two. The Sun-Times reported:
Roller Coaster Week for Macy's
It was a rough week for Macy’s, people. 2,500 jobs cut. January same-store sales down 7.1%. Let’s just put that into perspective: sales are nowhere near expectations across the board. A survey of 43 retailers by the UBS-International Council of Shopping Centers indicated that January sales were only up 0.5%, a percentage point below the anticipated 1.5%. Macy’s, on the other hand, anticipated their sales were going to be down 4 to 6%.
Cubs Taking Longer To Sell, Too
It's not just your suburban-bound friend's condo that's taking longer to sell -- the Cubs sale is proceeding slower than Sam Zell predicted due to real estate uncertainties as well.
First Look: Takashi
One of the more anticipated restaurant openings in recent weeks has been Takashi, which opened its doors December 30th at 1952 N. Damen in Bucktown.
Macy's Cuts 100 Chicagoland Jobs
Further evidence that Macy’s strategies are not headed in the successful direction executives hoped, Macy’s North, the division that operates Macy’s in the Midwest, announced Friday the layoff of 271 employees, citing lagging sales. Combined sales for November and December were down 1.1%, while December’s sales were down 7.9%, significantly worse than the anticipated 4 to 7 percent drop over last year. January’s same day sales are expected to dip 4 to 6 percent.
Chicagoist: The Year That Was
It's been a banner year around these parts, with stories big and small, comments bold and beautiful, politicians grand and grandly inept. The last 12 months were filled with sports, food, music and mayhem. What were we all talking about in 2007?
