The retailer will shut 66 more locations in 2025, pour cash into tech‑heavy remodels, and add smaller luxury outposts as it races to stay relevant.
Shoppers who grew up meeting “under the big red star” might be wondering, is my local Macy’s next? The 166‑year‑old chain confirmed it will close 66 “under‑productive” stores early next year—part of a blueprint to shutter 150 locations in total by 2027 while modernizing the rest.
What Macy’s ‘A Bold New Chapter’ means for everyday shoppers nationwide
Macy’s new CEO Tony Spring calls the strategy “a strong call to action” that balances cost cuts with fresh investment. The company says roughly $700 million unlocked from real‑estate exits will be funneled into sleeker stores and better digital tools. So, what stays and what goes?
- Modernize 350 core stores with faster checkouts, upgraded fitting rooms, and expanded same‑day pickup
- Grow digital sales by integrating mobile checkout, AI‑driven styling, and more marketplace brands
- Expand luxury banners Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury, banking on higher‑margin beauty and fashion
Sounds ambitious, right? Yet Macy’s insists the trio of moves will recapture shoppers drifting online without abandoning iconic in‑person experiences.
Three strategic pillars driving Macy’s shift toward smaller curated store formats
First, the closures. By holiday 2025, nearly one‑third of Macy’s pre‑pandemic fleet will be gone. Second, the chain will open 30 compact “Market by Macy’s” units averaging 50,000 sq ft—about a quarter of a traditional box—to place popular items closer to suburban customers.
Third, luxury growth rolls on: 15 new Bloomingdale’s and 30 Bluemercury shops are slated, tapping consumers who still splurge on premium labels even in choppy economic times.
| Move | Number of stores | Target date | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close under‑productive Macy’s | 150 | End 2027 | Reallocate capital |
| Remodel “go‑forward” Macy’s | 350 | Ongoing | Elevate experience |
| Launch Market by Macy’s | 30 | 2026 | Local convenience |
| Add Bloomingdale’s | 15 | 2027 | Luxury apparel |
| Add Bluemercury | 30 | 2027 | Prestige beauty |
After that? Macy’s hints at more marketplace partnerships and possible price tweaks if U.S.–China tariffs ratchet higher, a reality CFO Adrian Mitchell flagged to investors. Below you have the timeline of closures and investments Macy’s has mapped out through 2027:
- Now–Dec 2024: Liquidation sales at 50 flagged stores
- Jan 2025: Additional 66 locations begin wind‑down
- 2025–2026: Remodel wave hits high‑volume branches; first “Market” stores open in Texas, Georgia, Ohio
- By late 2027: Full 150 closures complete; luxury footprint up 20 percent
Curious whether your city is affected? Macy’s posts the evolving closure list on its investor site and promises at least 90‑day notice before shutters roll down.
Will the makeover work—or is it too little, too late?
Retail analysts say shrinking to grow can work if savings truly flow into sharper assortments and frictionless tech. However, competition from Amazon, Target and off‑price players remains fierce. Will renovated stores and curated racks lure you back? That answer, ultimately, decides Macy’s fate.
Macy’s is betting that a leaner footprint, luxe expansion, and hefty digital upgrades can rewrite its future before the final curtain falls. Keep an eye on renovation schedules, online exclusives, and those small‑format openings—they’re the clearest signals of how this “Bold New Chapter” will read in the years ahead. quickly the strategy turns savings into sales.