RIP Filenes, Marshall Fields, et al

[Deb in IA]

No Kidding!! I had no idea they were taking over this many stores. Here, our Famous Barr's (which were in every mall) have turned into Macy's.

I didn't know that!!! I lived in St. Louis in the mid-80's, and remember Famous Barr's everywhere!!!

Bummer . . .

 

[Linda/MA]

But hey Macy's are still going to carry Frango's.
Kae

Don't count on it for long. When Macy's took over Jordan Marsh, they said they would continue two long-standing traditions -- the Enchanted Village at Christmas and JM's famous blueberry muffins. Both are gone now.

 

[Blondie]

For us in the D.C. area its Hechts that is being replaced by Macy's. One by one, Hecht Companies all over the D.C. area are becoming a thing of the past. I mourn the loss.

It's the same here in Virginia. I'm actually glad to see Hect's replaced by Macy's.

 

[SamIAm21]

I am so bummed about Marshall Fields, I have so many Memories connected to the MF at River Oaks, what a candy counter!! I remember going there with a GF who needed a new bra & she was-well not real gifted. And when we were looking the Sales lady thought she might do better in the Teens Section, we were just out of High School It was one of those priceless moments. And maybe a had to be there, moment-but it still brings a warm fuzzy for me.

But hey Macy's are still going to carry Frango's.
Kae

The Marshall Fields in River Oaks was the most beautiful store. I haven't been there in years, but I used to LOVE going in there and yes, that candy counter was to DIE FOR! I will miss Marshall Fields greatly. Actually, I am refusing to shop at Macy's period. I cut up the credit card they sent me and everything. If I want something, I'll hit Nordstroms or something. My MF credit card actually goes back to like 1985 or something like that.

Sorry Boston about losing Filene's. Chicago understands your pain!

 

[Tracey1974]

Macy's is everywhere now.

Isn't Filene's the one with the bridal gown sale every year with the crazy girls fighting over the dresses? I used to watch it every year on the morning news shows.

 

[JESW]

That's funny as just yesterday my Mom and I were both saying how much we missed Filene's - we used to shop at the one in the Natick Mall. And I used to go to the one in Boston on occassion. The newer stores are just not the same...

Jill

 

[Virgo10]

While I always like Filenes, I still miss Jordan Marsh. They had the best stuff! I can remember going to the one in Boston as a kid and thinking that it had to be the biggest store in the world.

Filenes was one of the anchor stores at the South Shore Plaza. Long before that place even had a roof on it, there was a Filenes. Yeah, I'm that old!

So many great stores now gone. Jordans, Remicks (for you folks in Quincy), Sterns, Raymonds (the home of uncle Eif {sp?}) White's, Gilchrists... the list just goes on and on.

 

[DVC Sadie]

For us in the D.C. area its Hechts that is being replaced by Macy's. One by one, Hecht Companies all over the D.C. area are becoming a thing of the past. I mourn the loss.

I hear you loud and clear! When Woodward & Lothrop closed their doors in the 90s I mourned them as well.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I remember back when it was G. Fox! Then it became Filene's, now Macy's. I'm kind of "eh" on it.

Now Marshall Field's is another story. My family is from Chicago - I still have family that live there and I feel a particular affinity for the city. I'm beyond that they're changing the name. MF is a Chicago institution!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Our beloved Thalhiemer's was bought out by Hecht's. Now Hecht's has been sold to Macy's. Macy's can only be better than our current Hecht's stores.

Lori

 

[twojo21]

foley's out in colorado was also bought out & replaced with macy's logo.

i used to live in chicago & marshall fields is such an institution there, what will become of frango's? its sad to see it go, i loved seeing the christmas windows & going inside shopping at marshall fields downtown as a kid.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I worked at Filenes this summer near my hometown. I had customers daily that were quite vocal about their thoughts on the change, and lets just say that the majority vote was that it wasn't a good change. To be honest I agree. My mom is very upset as well. I do hope though, that at least the interior appearance of the store will improve now that Macy's has taken over.

And yes, a lot of stores are losing their employees. Ours has lost nearly 30 since I left to go back to school, and people were leaving all summer. I'm still technically an employee there. We were stretched way too thin when I was there; I can't imagine what it's like now

 

[Michelina]

I live in central PA now but growing up we always shopped at the big Kauffman's in Pittsburgh. For it to be a Macy's just seems so wrong.

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

Down with Macy's!!!

I wonder what sort of blasphemy they have planned for the Walnut Room. What horrible fate awaits?

 

[goofy4tink]

While I always like Filenes, I still miss Jordan Marsh. They had the best stuff! I can remember going to the one in Boston as a kid and thinking that it had to be the biggest store in the world.

Filenes was one of the anchor stores at the South Shore Plaza. Long before that place even had a roof on it, there was a Filenes. Yeah, I'm that old!

So many great stores now gone. Jordans, Remicks (for you folks in Quincy), Sterns, Raymonds (the home of uncle Eif {sp?}) White's, Gilchrists... the list just goes on and on.

Yikes!!! You just took me for a walk down memory lane!!! Anyone else out there remember the perfume fountain at Jordan Marsh at Shoppers World?? My mom stopped going to Macys...said she thought they were carrying a line of goods that was one step up from Bradlees!!! She was a huge Filene's fan...I'm almost glad she's not with us anymore...this surely would have killed her!!! In fact, the first time I went into Filene's in the Natick Mall, after she died, I started tearing up!!! What a dope. Just the smell in there took me back. Missing the Enchanted Village as well....and those muffins!!!!!

 

[Galahad]

Here it's LS Ayers that is going the way of the Macy's juggernaught. "Serena" works for Ayers here - hope she still has a job with Macy's. Ayers is much smaller that Fields, but it has a local history that is important to the area. Sad to see it go.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

The took away The Bon Marche here. Sounds like the same kind of local connection as the places in other parts of the country. The Bon was the place to be at Christmas. Now it's the same Macy's yuck all year round.

My kids are still pissed about this. DS refuses to call it Macy's, it's still The Bon to him.

Of course he's still pissy about them turning the Burger King on 85th in Kirkland into a Starbucks and still tries to yell for a Whopper (not that he eats them!)

 

[drgnfly30]

I lost Strawbridge & Clothiers and Lord & Taylor..

 

[Maleficent13]

Here we just lost Kaufmann's...eh. I feel worse about the fact that I can't remember what the store was called before The May Co. bought it.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Today is a sad day in Boston. It's the last day that Filene's will exist. Tomorrow it will morph into Macys. As someone who grew up in the Boston area during the 1960s, I will always remember going downtown with my mother on the subway to shop at Jordan Marsh and Filenes (and many other stores that are no longer in existence). They are both Macys now. I know this is happening to many other local institutions around the country and find it sad that wherever you go, everything seems to be the same. When I visited Chicago many years ago, one place I really wanted to see was Marshall Fields. Now it's going to be just another Macy's -- nothing special. What's Oprah going to do? I guess it's just a sign of the times. . . but I still don't like it.

Wow, no more Filene's!? I grew up in the Worcester area, and every year, we used to schedule a back-to-school trip to Boston Filene's. Whatever is going to happen to Filene's Basement? I remember watching on the news when they had the huge sale for Bridal gowns. People would line up for hours! It just won't be the same without Filene's Basement.