Macy’s Philadelphia Store Set to Close, Iconic Organ to Play Final Notes
Department store chain Macy’s is preparing to close one of its prominent locations this weekend, marking the end of an era for shoppers in Philadelphia.
The retailer will cease operations at its Center City, Philadelphia store on Sunday. The location has faced challenges in recent times, leading to its closure.
Farewell to the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ
A notable feature of the Philadelphia Macy’s, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, will perform hourly until the store’s final closure. According to the Philadelphia Enquirer, this will be a special send-off for the instrument.
For two decades, the Philadelphia Macy’s has been a fixture in the city. The organ, typically played twice daily, six days a week, is a beloved attraction within the store.
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Organist Peter Richard Conte is scheduled to conduct a series of complimentary recitals throughout the closing day, from 9:00 AM to approximately 6:30 PM, offering a final opportunity for the public to hear the famed instrument.
Uncertainty Surrounds Organ’s Future
Macy’s assumed ownership of the organ in 2006 when it took over the retail space. The future of the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ remains undetermined following the store’s closure.
Part of Wider Store Closure Strategy
The Philadelphia location is among the initial 66 stores identified by Macy’s for closure, as part of a broader plan to shutter 150 locations nationwide.
The remaining closures are anticipated over the subsequent four to twelve months. Prior to closing, these stores will conduct clearance sales, offering discounts potentially reaching up to 90 percent. Discounts will be introduced at lower percentages initially and increase as the closures approach.
Macy’s is scheduled to close its Center City, Philadelphia store on Sunday.
Macy’s will close an additional 50 stores in 2025; however, the Manhattan flagship store is not affected.
Macy’s Restructuring Plan
The plan to close 150 underperforming stores by the conclusion of 2026 was initially disclosed by Macy’s in February of the previous year. This strategic move will reduce the total number of Macy’s stores by a third, bringing the count down to 350.
Tony Spring, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Macy’s, stated that the closure of “underproductive Macy’s stores” is intended to allow for a greater focus of resources on more profitable locations.
Alongside store closures and renovations of remaining locations, Macy’s also intends to expand its presence by opening 15 new Bloomingdale’s and 30 new Bluemercury stores.
Company reports indicate that overall sales for Macy’s decreased in the past year. However, locations that have undergone renovations have experienced sales growth.
Executives decided to keep the 66 stores slated for closure operational through the holiday shopping season to accommodate regular customers during Christmas and to allow time for liquidation sales.
Among the closing locations is the store at the Kingston Collection mall in Massachusetts. A comprehensive list of closures is provided below.
Macy’s initially planned to close 55 stores within the first year of the restructuring initiative but subsequently increased the target to 66.
After the completion of all 150 closures, Macy’s will operate 350 stores, a significant reduction from its peak of approximately 1,100 stores in 2008.
The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ inside the Macy’s Philadelphia store will perform hourly preceding the closure.
Macy’s has maintained ownership of the organ since acquiring the retail space in 2006.
Retail Sector Challenges
The announcement of Macy’s closures coincided with Kohl’s revealing the closure of 27 stores across 14 states. This news highlights the ongoing challenges faced by traditional department stores.
Like numerous department store chains, Macy’s has experienced a decline in sales, attributed to the increasing prominence of online retailers and the diminishing popularity of suburban shopping malls.
Tony Spring, the newly appointed CEO, is spearheading a major turnaround strategy for Macy’s.
Macy’s has recently addressed an accounting irregularity involving a single employee who concealed over $150 million in delivery expenses. While the company maintains this was an isolated incident, it acknowledges that the error has impacted their full-year financial outlook by $79 million.
Macy’s is among numerous retailers adjusting to the evolving retail landscape, often referred to as the ‘retail apocalypse,’ as brick-and-mortar establishments contend with increased theft and reduced profit margins.
Data indicates that up to mid-December, US retailers had closed approximately 7,300 stores, representing an almost 60 percent increase compared to 2023.
Recent retail bankruptcies include Container Store, which filed for Chapter 11 protection on December 22.
Earlier in December, Big Lots announced ‘going out of business’ sales at all its stores across the US following a bankruptcy filing in September.
Macy’s plans encompass the closure of 150 stores by the end of 2026.
The retailer recently disclosed that a single employee hid over $150 million in delivery expenses.
Initially, Big Lots planned to close all 963 remaining locations after a potential sale to a private equity firm fell through. However, an investor has since been found, expected to keep between 200 and 400 stores operational.
Party City, a long-standing US retail presence, also announced plans last week to close all 850 stores in the coming weeks.
Walgreens announced in October its intention to close over 1,200 stores as part of efforts to revitalize the struggling pharmacy chain.
Badcock Home Furniture & More stated at the end of July that it would close all 380 stores across the South after filing for bankruptcy earlier in the year.
Dollar stores have also been significantly impacted, with 99 Cents Only announcing in April the closure of all 371 locations across California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.
Family Dollar has announced the closure of 1,000 stores under both its and sister company Dollar Tree banners over the next three years.
Macy’s Store Closures by State (Ending February)
Arizona
- Mesa: Superstition Springs Center, 6535 E Southern Ave.
California
- Chula Vista: Otay Ranch Town Center, 2015 Birch Road
- Citrus Heights: Sunrise Mall, 6000 Sunrise Mall
- Corte Madera: Village at Corte Madera, 1400 Redwood Highway
- Los Angeles: Downtown LA Plaza, 750 W 7th St.
- Newark: NewPark Mall, 200 Newpark Mall
- Sacramento: Downtown Plaza, 414 K St.
- San Diego: Mission Valley Home, 1555 Camino De La Reina
- San Mateo: Hillsdale Furniture, 2838 South El Camino
- Westminster: Westminster Mall, 300 Westminster Mall
Colorado
- Centennial: Southglenn Furniture, 6797 South Vine Street (already closed)
- Denver: The Shops at Northfield, 8298 E Northfield Blvd.
Florida
- Altamonte Springs: Furniture, 820 West Town Parkway
- Boca Raton: Furniture, 9339 Glades Rd (already closed)
- Boynton Beach: Boynton Beach Mall, 801 N Congress Ave
- Fort Lauderdale: Furniture, 4501 N. Federal Highway
- Pembroke Pines: Furniture, 13640 Pines Blvd.
- Sarasota: Westfield Siesta Key, former Southgate Mall, 3501 S Tamiami Trail
- South Dade: Furniture, 13251 South Dixie Highway (already closed)
- Tampa: West Shore Plaza, 298 Westshore Plaza
Georgia
- Duluth: Furniture, Gwinnett Furniture, 3360 Ventura Parkway
- Duluth: Gwinnett Place Mall, 2100 Pleasant Hill Road
- Suwanee: Market by Macy’s, Johns Creek Town Center, 3630 Peachtree Parkway
Idaho
- Coeur d’Alene: Silver Lake Mall, 200 W Hanley Ave.
Illinois
- Springfield: White Oaks Mall, 104 White Oaks Mall
Louisiana
- Lafayette: Acadiana Mall, 5733 Johnston St.
Maryland
- Bel Air: Harford Mall, 600 Baltimore Pike
- Baltimore: Security Square Mall, 6901 Security Blvd.
Massachusetts
- Kingston: Kingston Collection, 101 Kingston Collection Way
Michigan
- Flint: Genesee Valley Center, 4600 Miller Road
- Sterling Heights: Lakeside Mall, 14200 Lakeside Circle
- Traverse City: Grand Traverse Mall, 3400 S Airport Road W
- Troy: Oakland Mall, 500 W 14 Mile Road
Minnesota
- Burnsville: Burnsville Center, 14251 Burnhaven Drive
- Maplewood: Maplewood Mall, 3001 White Bear Ave.
Missouri
- Kansas City: Metro North Mall, 400 NW Barry Road
- St. Louis: South County Center, 10 S County Center Way
New Jersey
- West Orange: Backstage Essex Green Shopping Center, 495 Prospect Avenue West
New York
- Brooklyn Downtown: 422 Fulton St.
- Brooklyn: Backstage Sheepshead Bay, 2027 Emmons Ave.
- Bronx: Backstage Fordham Place, 404 East Fordham Road
- Elmhurst: Backstage Queens Place, 88-01 Queens Blvd.
- Huntington: Melville Mall, 834 Walt Whitman Road
- New Hyde Park: Backstage Lake Success, 1526 Union Turnpike
- Massapequa: Sunrise Mall, 400 Sunrise Mall
- Rochester: Greece Ridge Center, 397 Greece Ridge Center
- Staten Island: Furniture, 98 Richmond Hill Road
Ohio
- Beavertown: Fairfield Commons, 2727 Fairfield Commons Blvd.
- Toledo: Franklin Park, 5001 Monroe St.
Oregon
- Hillsboro: The Streets of Tanasbourne, 2055 NE Allie Ave.
- Salem: Salem Center, 400 High St. NE
Pennsylvania
- Altoona: Logan Valley Mall, 5580 Goods Lane
- Exton: Exton Square, 245 Exton Square Mall
- Philadelphia: Center City, 1300 Market St.
- Wilkes Barre: Wyoming Valley Mall, 59 Wyoming Valley Mall
Tennessee
- Memphis: Oak Court, 4545 Poplar Ave.
Texas
- Dallas: Market by Macy’s, Southlake Town Square, 321 State Street
- Flower Mound: Market by Macy’s, Highlands of Flower Mound, 6101 Long Prairie Road
- Fort Worth: Market by Macy’s, West Bend, 1751 River Run
- Houston: Almeda Mall, 100 Almeda Mall
- Plano: The Shops at Willow Bend, 6209 W Park Blvd.
- Fairview: Village at Fairview, 201 Stacy Road
Virginia
- Colonial Heights: Southpark Mall, 170 Southpark Circle
Washington
- Puyallup: South Hill Mall, 3500 S Meridian
- Redmond: Furniture, 15340 NE 24th Street
- Silverdale: Kitsap Mall, 10315 Silverdale Way NW