Macy’S: The Store. the Star. the Story

On October 28, 1858, Rowland H. Macy, a native of Nantucket and a former seaman, opened a ladies’ and gentlemen’s emporium in New York City. The businessman had experienced several failed ventures and many felt that his new enterprise wouldn’t last very long. But Macy firmly believed that his Fancy Dry Goods store would captivate New York’s bustling crowds - and he was right. MACY’S traces a hundred and fifty years of one of the country’s premier retailers. The story begins with Rowland Macy’s colourful roots in Massachusetts. It then details the founding of the store, including the innovative advertising and pricing practices that made the fledgling business stand out from its competitors. Later chapters describe how Macy’s made history by being the first retailer to promote a woman to an executive position, how Isidor and Nathan Straus created the beautiful flagship store on Herald Square, how the once-cluttered lower level became the famous Cellar and much more. Throughout, lively text, rare photographs and colourful illustrations highlight the people and events - the trends, tragedies and traditions - that transformed Macy’s from a modest storefront into the ‘World’s Largest Store.