Fashion Fridays: Macy’s to Create Shoe Mecca

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Footwear Webdesk
Fashion Fridays
November 4, 2011

Macy’s Unveils Really, Really Big Plans
The chain’s New York flagship is set to become the world’s epic center for shoes. —Angela Velasquez

The world’s largest department store is soon to boast the world’s largest shoe department. Macy’s unveiled an unprecedented, multi-year renovation that will reinvent the shopping experience at its flagship store in New York’s Herald Square. The $400-million makeover includes plans to expand the second floor women’s shoe department to a jaw-dropping 39,000 square feet and will feature a coffee, wine and chocolate bar.

Cathy Taylor, Rocket Dog CEO, sees this lively shopping atmosphere as just what retail needs. “Macy’s new flagship of footwear will be a welcomed addition,” she says. “The sea of footwear experience this consumer expects and loves to see will only add to her shopping experience and social gatherings of girlfriend fun.”

As many as 300,000 pairs of shoes from brands like Nine West, Kors, Cole Haan and more will be available each day. At a news conference, Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren said he hopes this new shopping experience will encourage customers to keep coming back. “Loyalty starts with the shoe department. Once you get a woman in a shoe, it’s over,” he stated.

The expansion is on the heels of Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship shoe department, which opened a couple of years ago featuring its own zip code: 10022-SHOE. Macy’s shoe emporium will be four times the size of Saks’. Renovations will begin early next spring and will continue into fall of 2015. Other flagship improvements include a new table-service restaurant on the sixth floor with views of the Empire State Building, a new hall of luxury brands, interactive store directories and a new mobile app to guide customers as they shop.