Macy's Herald Square Makeover

[WinnipegPatriot]

How sad...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...,1949300.story

[desertpunk]

From a jumbled mess to a better organized layout within that challenging space? I know that some of the clashing stylistic clutter is being removed but since those interiors in question aren't landmarked, there may be little anyone can do to stop the huge makeover. There certainly wasn't any satisfaction for the uproar over Elad's Plaza Hotel makeover that turned out to be a bit of botched plastic surgery.

Some pics:

[Sarcasticity]

Wow, that looks really bad Juxtaposition at its best. I can't believe it hasn't been given landmark status yet.

[Renna Hazel]

It certainly doesn't look bad, I like it. The current look is better but that store is a pain to navigate. I hope they can improve that a good deal.

[Middle-Island]

Times, Sept 13th:


It was what Mr. Grunewald, who was trained as an architect, saw above the curtains that upset him. The structural columns rising to the ceiling had been simplified. No longer did they have the Art Deco look that was so familiar in that part of the store. The marble cladding that he said had given them elegance and color was gone.

So were pendant chandeliers as dramatic as anything in a movie palace worthy of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

“It’s a tragedy to lose something that’s authentic,” said Mr. Grunewald, who walked through the store on Wednesday for the first time in several months. “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men will never make Art Deco again. Imagine trying to build the Chrysler Building now if you had to.”





Well, did anyone expect a crappy department store holding company in Cincinnati to care about art deco? They probably don't even know what it is, and think that it's something that should be defunded from the National Endowment of the Arts in the first place.

I worked at Stern's in 1984 out on Long Island, while Allied swallowed up Federated, yadda yadda yadda. It's now Macy's, which is in practically every other mall in the metro if not half the country after swallowing up other former retail hulks. Finally, welcome to the suburban look, Herald Square. Ain't homogenization grand?

[desertpunk]

Originally Posted by Middle-Island

Times, Sept 13th:


It was what Mr. Grunewald, who was trained as an architect, saw above the curtains that upset him. The structural columns rising to the ceiling had been simplified. No longer did they have the Art Deco look that was so familiar in that part of the store. The marble cladding that he said had given them elegance and color was gone.

So were pendant chandeliers as dramatic as anything in a movie palace worthy of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

“It’s a tragedy to lose something that’s authentic,” said Mr. Grunewald, who walked through the store on Wednesday for the first time in several months. “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men will never make Art Deco again. Imagine trying to build the Chrysler Building now if you had to.”





Well, did anyone expect a crappy department store holding company in Cincinnati to care about art deco? They probably don't even know what it is, and think that it's something that should be defunded from the National Endowment of the Arts in the first place.

I worked at Stern's in 1984 out on Long Island, while Allied swallowed up Federated, yadda yadda yadda. It's now Macy's, which is in practically every other mall in the metro if not half the country after swallowing up other former retail hulks. Finally, welcome to the suburban look, Herald Square. Ain't homogenization grand?

After what they did to Marshall Field's, nothing surprises me. It's all about sales per sq. ft. to these guys. History just gets in the way.

[Middle-Island]

Macy's Herald Square was certainly a hodgepoge of old, new architectural clutter, just like most of Manhattan. That's what made the place sort of fascinating to visit. Right down to the old wooden escalator -- between floors 9 and 10 I think.

I understand Macy's (brand) is loathed in many parts of the nation, and can't say I blame those that miss some of their favorite regional retailers. Gimbels and A&S still get talked about around NY in the same way. In fact, Abraham & Strauss was considered a cut above the old R.H. Macy. I suppose Herald Square will always be an icon, but it's apparent what a dinosaur industry it all is. I think when Sears finally keels over, it will be officially the end of the old 'department store' retailing era.