ST. LOUIS—Macy’s Inc. has said it will close a 189,000-sq.-ft. store and move its offices at the Railway Exchange Building here at 601 Olive St.
The three-story store opened in 1924 at the 21-story building, and was once the main flagship for the Famous-Barr retail chain before it was taken over by May Department Stores. The retailer will also vacate offices on the ninth and 10th floors of the building, where about 100 employees worked for various corporate and district offices. The company will consolidate these workers at its Earth City, Mo. Office.
Macy’s will close its store and offices by September. The Cincinnati-based firm does have eight other stores in the greater St. Louis area. Peter Sachse, chief stores officer, said the firm is working closely with building owner RNY-LLC on the move.
“We deeply appreciate the loyalty of our downtown store customers, the diligence of our associates, and the concern and support of Mayor Slay and his administration over the years,” Sachse said in a statement. “We have worked hard to reinvigorate our downtown business, including remodeling, downsizing and re-focusing the store in 2011. But unfortunately, the level of customer activity we see no longer justifies keeping the store open.