The US retail group Macy’s Inc. plans to open four new, small-format stores outside of shopping centers this fall as part of its Polaris strategy. These include Market by Macy’s, a smaller store offering customers a curated selection of the latest fashion trends, and the first location to combine both Market by Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage in the budget segment.
“At Macy’s, we believe retail is a dynamic business that requires constant analysis, reinvention and innovation. As customer preferences and buying behaviors change, we are constantly evolving to provide the experience our customers want,” said Marc Mastronardi, chief stores officer at Macy’s, in a statement.
“As exciting brand extensions, Market by Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage each offer unique shopping experiences – one celebrating discovery and convenience, while the other appeals to shoppers who love the thrill of chasing a great price.”
An initial three mall locations will open later this fall: A Market by Macy’s on August 20 at Johns Creek Town Center in Suwanee, Georgia, and another in St. Louis on THF Boulevard in Chesterfield Commons, the first in the region. which will replace the Chesterfield location. The Suwanee store is the third location in the greater Atlanta area, following Market by Macy’s in Presidential Markets and Southpoint in 2021.
The first joint location of Market by Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage will open this fall in Chicagoland at Evergreen Park, Illinois. Market by Macy’s will be on the first floor and Backstage on the second floor.
Smaller formats outside of malls play distinct roles in the company’s Polaris strategy, either expanding presence in an existing market, maintaining market presence by replacing underperforming locations, or entering new markets.
Since 2015, Macy’s Backstage has expanded to more than 300 Macy’s locations nationwide, including nine standalone stores. The newest Backstage location, Grapevine Mills, opened in Spring 2022 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 2020, the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s first Market by Macy’s opened in Southlake.
In 2021, the Company made available four new markets: Presidential Markets and South Point in the greater Atlanta area, and WestBend and Highlands at Flower Mound in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. By the end of 2022, Macy’s plans to expand Market by Macy’s to a total of eight locations. It has not yet been announced what these will be.