Macy’s is returning to Bloomingdale, but not to the mall.
The retail giant has agreed to occupy a 35,000-square-foot space in the Washington Prime Group-owned Bloomingdale Court, seven years after closing its location at Stratford Square Mall, the Daily Herald reported.
The new Macy’s is part of the company’s expansion of small-format stores across the country. These smaller stores aim to provide a curated selection of merchandise and a unique shopping experience, a Macy’s spokesperson told the outlet.
Macy’s expects to add up to 30 such stores nationwide by fall 2025, strategically placing them in off-mall shopping centers to reach existing and potential customers more effectively.
The Bloomingdale Court location marks Macy’s return to the area after being a staple in Stratford Square since 1981. The former anchor building in Stratford Square was demolished in 2019 to make way for a standalone Woodman’s grocery store. Other retailers, such as Burlington and Lenscrafters, have also ditched their Stratford Square storefronts for other nearby shopping centers.
“Even though they’ve chosen to leave their [mall] locations, we’ve been very fortunate to be able to keep them in Bloomingdale and have them want to stay a part of Bloomingdale,” said Sean Gascoigne, the village’s community and economic development director.
Macy’s is taking a space formerly held by T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods. It’s expected to open this spring.
Bloomingdale officials, meanwhile, recently took full control of the Stratford Square Mall after a prolonged legal battle with the owner of the mall’s interior, Namdar Realty Group. The village had been gradually acquiring portions of the shopping center, with plans to redevelop the 275-acre site.
WPG, which spun off of Simon Property Group in 2014, emerged from bankruptcy protection in October 2021, just a few months after filing, and a leadership shakeup followed. The bankruptcy reduced its debt from $4 billion to $1 billion.
—Quinn Donoghue
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