Federated/May-Robinson's merger

[honeychile]

Originally posted by ISUKappa
For us Iowans/Midwesterners:

Younkers started to suck when it was bought out by Saks, Inc. When Carson-Pirie-Scott bought it out from Saks, Inc., it started to suck even more. The ones in the bigger malls -- Valley West and Jordan Creek aren't bad -- but otherwise the rest of the Younkers stores are pretty sucky.

Thank God we still have Von Maur and their fabulous shoe sale room.

[hijack]

I was at a bridal shower last year while in Chicago, and the bride had registered at Carson-Pirie-Scott. I didn't know the bride at all, but was somewhat dragged there by my future mil, so I had just bought one of those Darden restaurant cards (everyone has to eat out sometime!).

You could tell that everyone had shopped at C-P-S, because the store gift wraps for free - and I had the only present NOT wrapped in the same paper!
[/hijack]

[chitownxo]

[hijack]

I was at a bridal shower last year while in Chicago, and the bride had registered at Carson-Pirie-Scott. I didn't know the bride at all, but was somewhat dragged there by my future mil, so I had just bought one of those Darden restaurant cards (everyone has to eat out sometime!).

You could tell that everyone had shopped at C-P-S, because the store gift wraps for free - and I had the only present NOT wrapped in the same paper!
[/hijack

This is so true - I work in gift wrap/customer service at the Orland Park CPS, and as long as the bride is registered, we'll wrap wedding gift for free in our complimentary paper. It doesn't have to be on her registry, but it'd be nice if it were bridal. It does amaze me what people will try to pass off as a bridayl gift; the paper isn't that nice, and the bow is pretty cruddy. I had someone try to tell me a "Happy Graduation" picture frame was a bridal gift.

[ISUKappa]

Originally posted by chitownxo
Oh, and ISU Kappa - I work at CPS part-time, and Carsons didn't buy Yonkers. Saks owns Yonkers, Herbergers, CPS, Bergners (which bought out CPS), and the Boston Store. They merged all of the above into the Department Store Group. No one likes the merger..especially since they've closed some stores, stopped carrying some higher-end merchandise, and made a terrible inventory even worse.

Huh. I could have sworn there was something on the Younkers website and in the DM Register that CPS had bought out the Younkers portion from Saks. It was right around the time we were getting ready to register for our wedding so the lady was telling us some things might get clearanced out as the inventory changed.

Either way, it sucks.

[lifesaver]

I avoid mall shopping like the plague. I buy it all online. But I hate that Foley's is now owned by Macy's. Macy's seems more expensive and well, foreign (read: not Texan). Foley's just seems Texan to me. Every mall here seems to have 3 or so, lol. People seemed the most friendly at foleys. The chicks in my life dont seem to be too upset. At the new mall they are building close to my house, (san antonio's new upscale mall) will have SA's first Nordstroms, SA's first Neiman Marcus and Foley's (which will probably eventually become a Macy's). 2 outta 3 isnt bad they say.

San Antonio lost its signature downtown department store in the mid to late 80's. It was called Joske's of Texas and was the department store of all departement stores. I never got to see it (closed before I moved down here) but everyone in SA still talks about it and what an impression it made and how they had a toy floor (liek DA mentioned in his post) and how magical it was at Christmas. Its a shame places like that are dissapearing daily.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by lifesaver
Foley's just seems Texan to me.

Don't tell people in Colorado that.

I looked at a history of several department store chains and discoverd this:

"1988 -- May acquired Foley's in Houston and Filene's in Boston."

Now, in another history, I discovered that The May Company was actually founded in Leadville, Colorado, then moved quickly to St. Louis when they aquired a big store there.

So, at least at this point in time, it could be argued that Foley's corporated has roots in Colorado.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Don't tell people in Colorado that.

I looked at a history of several department store chains and discoverd this:

"1988 -- May acquired Foley's in Houston and Filene's in Boston."

Now, in another history, I discovered that The May Company was actually founded in Leadville, Colorado, then moved quickly to St. Louis when they aquired a big store there.

So, at least at this point in time, it could be argued that Foley's corporated has roots in Colorado.

Foley's history with May has its roots in Colorado; the last 16 years of it. Before that, it was all Texan.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
I like Macy's and Bloomingdale's. I really don't understand what the complaints are. Macy's has a huge selection at reasonable prices and lots of sales. Bloomingdale's is higher end and more expensive than Macy's. I have never heard of Kauffmann's or Horne's so I can't compare them.

I remember when Federated took over A & S, and they became Macy's. It really wasn't a big deal for customers. They even shared bridal registries.

I would like to see Federated be the dominant partner in this mergers. I have mixed emotions about May -- they took over Robinson's, a wonderful heritage department store in SoCal, and took it downmarket.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
No one's complaining about Macy's as a store--the complaints are more about smaller department stores that have become part of a city's tradition being bought out by larger stores and losing part of their local identity.

What would happen if Bergdorf Goodman was bought out by Wal-Mart (huge overexaggeration, yes) and became Wal-Goodman? Even if nothing changed except the name, many people would be upset at what they saw as the end of an era. Of course, more will change about these stores than just the name.

I'm not a big fan of large department stores at all--but they fill a need all the same.

I would agree. Basically, I see large stores as feeders to my favorite stores -- Nordstrom Rack, Neiman Marcus Last Call and Off Fifth Saks Fifth Avenue. I have to pick up my gear on sale.

[SDTSarah]

SA is going to have a Neiman Marcus and a Nordstrom??? Yayyyyy!!! Now I can move there! Of course, I'll still be loyal to the Saks with the 40-ft tall cowboy boots in the front.

(Seriously...I really do make decisions about places I could live based on the shopping.)

Originally posted by lifesaver
I avoid mall shopping like the plague. I buy it all online. But I hate that Foley's is now owned by Macy's. Macy's seems more expensive and well, foreign (read: not Texan). Foley's just seems Texan to me. Every mall here seems to have 3 or so, lol. People seemed the most friendly at foleys. The chicks in my life dont seem to be too upset. At the new mall they are building close to my house, (san antonio's new upscale mall) will have SA's first Nordstroms, SA's first Neiman Marcus and Foley's (which will probably eventually become a Macy's). 2 outta 3 isnt bad they say.

San Antonio lost its signature downtown department store in the mid to late 80's. It was called Joske's of Texas and was the department store of all departement stores. I never got to see it (closed before I moved down here) but everyone in SA still talks about it and what an impression it made and how they had a toy floor (liek DA mentioned in his post) and how magical it was at Christmas. Its a shame places like that are dissapearing daily.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by SDTSarah
SA is going to have a Neiman Marcus and a Nordstrom??? Yayyyyy!!! Now I can move there! Of course, I'll still be loyal to the Saks with the 40-ft tall cowboy boots in the front.

(Seriously...I really do make decisions about places I could live based on the shopping.)

yep, the Shops at La Cantera. Opens this september. Is purported to be very upscale as well. in the same vein (not architecturally tho) as the Gallerias in Dallas and Houston. With our generally great weather, it is all open and outdoors (the common areas) with a medeterianian feel. I've heard its supposed to be amazing. And its across the street from UTSA. Should do wonders for the traffic in the area. I guess they were thinking, "Huh, lets see, a mall will attract tons of people and traffic. Hey I know! Lets put it across the street from a university of about 30,000 students!"

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by lifesaver
Foley's history with May has its roots in Colorado; the last 16 years of it. Before that, it was all Texan.

Hey Life,

Consider your chain officially jerked!

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Hey Life,

Consider your chain officially jerked!

hahhahahahhaha.

Nice.

[Glitter650]

Here in Nor. Cal it won't make a difference really, all we have are Macy's, and 1 bloomingdales (with one more bloomies being built). We have others that aren't owned by Federated, but as for Federated I'm pretty sure those are the only two names represented up here. I actually worked at Bloomingdales and found their Computer system very easy to use, and it did everything (stock checks, shipping, credit card apps etc) I don't know why they would use the other one if it still required to do some work by hand ??

[33girl]

Macy's just announced the stores they are closing - two Kaufmann's here (SH Village and Monroeville - GRR) and everything they keep open is going to be a Macy's. This is SO STUPID. The only reason the Macy's name has any cachet is because people think of it as a New York City thing. When every dept store everywhere is a Macy's, it won't be any more special than Sears or Penneys.

I just sent Dillards an email telling them to get their butts to the Burgh. LOL.

[Sister Havana]

One bit of good news for those of us in the Chicago area - the Marshall Fields name will remain, at least for the time being. (If they're smart they'll keep it that way!) Lord & Taylor will not be converted to Macy's either.