Chicago Macy's Boasts Soaring Profits

By Kevin Robinson in News on Feb 25, 2010 8:00PM

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.

Responding to public disdain in Chicago for renaming the flagship store after the New York chain, Lundgren said that "I've tried, and we've tried to be sensitive to that response," he said. "We're trying our best to treat the Chicago stores with the greatest respect we can. I want to thank the customers who are rewarding us." The Chicago store was selected two years ago as one of 20 pilot stores for "My Macy's", which focuses the design and merchandising of each store more toward local tastes. That's included moving 75 buyers, executives and strategists to Chicago in 2008 to refocus the brand.