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Macy's Department Store At 1110 Main St.


Houston19514

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Has anyone heard anything at all about what plans (if any) Macy's has for the downtown store? Are they doing any upgrading? Any plans for a full remodel or expansion to use the space vacated when they closed down the Foley's headquarters operation? Any other plans to use that now-vacant space? Anything at all?

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Has anyone heard anything at all about what plans (if any) Macy's has for the downtown store? Are they doing any upgrading? Any plans for a full remodel or expansion to use the space vacated when they closed down the Foley's headquarters operation? Any other plans to use that now-vacant space? Anything at all?

Once you get passed the 5th floor i believe it's locked and you need a "key" to get in. It was pretty busy two weeks ago when i went tunnel exploring.

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  • 1 year later...

The old "FOLEY'S" sign had spiky wires jutting out at crazy angles to discourage pigeons - somehow, I think Corporate would frown on Macy's going that route.

Maybe electric fence technology could be adapted to zap roosting birds...

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Whatever the case, I would agree that the building could use a face-lift.

You should take a look at the pictures of the grand opening in 1947? Was considered very state-of-the-art and innovative when completed. It's a living miracle that the building is still there today. Instead of remodelling this building they need to just build a brand spanking NEW modern building nearby. This is Houston and we are supposed to be so ultra-modern, lets do it!

PS, you should see the Macy's in NYC and the one in Union Square in San Francisco make ours look minuscule in comparison.

Miracle on 34th street! :D

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You should take a look at the pictures of the grand opening in 1947? Was considered very state-of-the-art and innovative when completed. It's a living miracle that the building is still there today. Instead of remodelling this building they need to just build a brand spanking NEW modern building nearby. This is Houston and we are supposed to be so ultra-modern, lets do it!

PS, you should see the Macy's in NYC and the one in Union Square in San Francisco make ours look minuscule in comparison.

Miracle on 34th street! :D

Pleeeeeze! No new building for Macy's Houston store on Main Street!

If this supposed to be a joke, it isn't funny. There are a lot of folks around here who are extremely concerned about architectural preservation since so much of Houston's history has disappeared in the name of progress. We don't take such comments lightly.

The NYC Macy's on 34th Street is the company's flagship store. It was built in an era when department stores worldwide offered a far more diverse selection of merchandise under one roof than they do today.

One thing that Macy's might do to attract more shoppers to the Main Street store here is to provide a couple of hours free or heavily discounted parking in its garage for shoppers who present a current register receipt along with their parking ticket.

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Yeah, I was really surprised the one time I parked there and realized it wasn't free.

Now I ride the Metro Rail when I shop at Macy's (I've since moved to an apartment in walking distance of the rail). I sure beats going to the Galleria for Christmas shopping, as long as you can find what you need anyways.

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Yeah, I was really surprised the one time I parked there and realized it wasn't free.

Now I ride the Metro Rail when I shop at Macy's (I've since moved to an apartment in walking distance of the rail). I sure beats going to the Galleria for Christmas shopping, as long as you can find what you need anyways.

Yes, you really want to avoid the Galleria around the holiday's. Pure hell, unless you go at the crack of dawn.

The top floors (administrative) of downtown Macy's has always been a mystery to shoppers. I rode the bus with several long-time employees that worked over 30 years at that local. Must have been sad for them to have to leave when it became Macy's.

One thing I can say for sure is that Foley's had one of the best Santa Claus villages ever!

My much older cousin was Santa there for 3 years. I still have the photos one from 1970. It was funny because that day my neice, myself & mom went to see Santa and at the last minute she said "Oh by the way, that's your cousin"! What! Santa is my cuz!

The lines used to go all the way out the door! That is when they moved the N Pole Village to the 1st level. I know since we were able to look at the mechanical elves in the big glass display windows as they made toys. That only added to the angst of getting at least into the door. You had to jump up high to get a glimpse of Saint Nick in what seemed like a huge prop chair. The camera flash was unbearable. Suprised kids didn't pass out. Foley's used to go all out back then.

Fun days indeed! :D Ho Ho Ho!

Oh Yes, and this was the days when almost ALL stores downtown used to water hose clean their sidewalks every day. I seldom see anymore.

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I do find that the Macy's Downtown does lack some of the higher end clothing that the other Macy's around town have.

The building does need updating inside as well as outside. -- If they could somehow bring windows to the other floors, that would be nice.

The one thing I did notice this year is they seem to have either installed or started using the security bars on the doors and windows at night. I have lived downtown for about 5 years and have never seen those in use.

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I do find that the Macy's Downtown does lack some of the higher end clothing that the other Macy's around town have.

The building does need updating inside as well as outside. -- If they could somehow bring windows to the other floors, that would be nice.

The one thing I did notice this year is they seem to have either installed or started using the security bars on the doors and windows at night. I have lived downtown for about 5 years and have never seen those in use.

You are absolutely right! Although I personaly have not stepped foot in this DT store in a good while. I know the Only really great Macy's is The Galleria, Memorial & Baybrook Mall. These have the best of the best, newest items available. Almeda Mall store is a dying horse. Whole other topic.

I agree a building with no windows is down right misery. Solitary confinement. :ph34r::lol:

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You should take a look at the pictures of the grand opening in 1947? Was considered very state-of-the-art and innovative when completed. It's a living miracle that the building is still there today. Instead of remodelling this building they need to just build a brand spanking NEW modern building nearby. This is Houston and we are supposed to be so ultra-modern, lets do it!

PS, you should see the Macy's in NYC and the one in Union Square in San Francisco make ours look minuscule in comparison.

Miracle on 34th street! :D

I would add the Macy's in Philadelphia to your list of the great old department stores. This is where the 1987 movie 'Mannequin' was filmed. Much like Foley's, it used to be run independently before being rebranded as yet another Macy's.

Oh, and it does have lots of windows.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=117888

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanamaker%27s

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Yes, I shop so I can gaze out the windows. Same reason I go to casinos.

NOT

I think it's more about atmosphere and natural lighting than for gazing. However, I don't think any major changes should be made to the Foley's building. Like it or not, it is something that should be preserved. I think minor updates that are inline with the era and style would be okay though.

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Yes, I shop so I can gaze out the windows. Same reason I go to casinos.

What's wrong with a little natural light while you shop?

The Sears in midtown looks like it used to have windows at ground level but they were bricked in, maybe because of the fear of getting broken into?

Montreal's big department store "The Bay" has windows, although it looks like lots of them are blocked too. This building seems more like a "classic" to me than Houston's Macy's, but maybe I have to take a closer look at the old Macy's/Foley's building. Anybody got any photos?

Here's the Bay building I am talking about...

thebaybz0.jpg

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Makes me wonder why Harrod's has so many windows, but you can't see out any of them.

Those windows were necessary for light and ventilation. At the time of its construction, electric lighting was in its infancy and air conditioning was not yet invented. Stores did not stay open at night for customers' shopping convenience. After WWII, Harrods and similar major department stores worldwide "modernized" their interiors and the windows were covered over inside to gain more space for the sales floor, stockrooms, etc.

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FWIW, there was a time in Houston when buildings without windows were promoted as a way to keep them cool and to keep air conditioning costs down. I really don't remember the exact year but I imagine some historians will recall this trend.

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Montreal's big department store "The Bay" has windows, although it looks like lots of them are blocked too. This building seems more like a "classic" to me than Houston's Macy's,
the windows at ground level were mainly for displays for the outside. The old foley's building is definitely a classic piece of architecture.

most people don't go shopping to get natural light, they go outside instead.

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What's wrong with a little natural light while you shop?

The Sears in midtown looks like it used to have windows at ground level but they were bricked in, maybe because of the fear of getting broken into?

Back in the 1940's-50's, those used to be display windows where passers-by could window-shop for clothing, furniture, appliances, etc. Sears stayed open only one or two evenings a week. Evenings or weekends, people actually parked their cars and strolled along the Main Street sidewalks, peering into all the store windows where new merchandise was artistically displayed. Bricking them in deterred break-ins but also added footage to the sales floor.

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