The Macy’s chain of shops is one of the oldest and fastest growing retailers in the United States. The Macy’s shop in New York’s Herald Square is arguably the largest of all. It is considered the largest in the world in its style.
Macy’s Herald Square shop is on the corner of the Empire State Building and within walking distance of Madison Square Garden. It has been at this location since 1896, although initially the shop was nowhere near the size it is today.
Gradually, the shop took over the vacant space between 34th Street and Broadway, occupying the entire block, or 198,500 square meters. This figure gives it the title of the largest shop in the world.
First-time visitors to this department stores’ are surprised by the sheer scale of things. The Herald Square Macy’s is set on 10 floors and in a luxury shopping environment. Here, all the big names have at least one shop and salespeople who act as brand ambassadors to guide customers.
It is estimated that there are more than half a million different references in the shop. Clothing, home decor, wine cellar, jewellery, watches, stationery… Macy’s has everything you could possibly want. Just ask.
Every year since 1924, to celebrate Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November), the company’s employees have marched from the American Museum of Natural History to Columbus Circle along Central Park. This parade is broadcast on TV and is watched by millions of Americans.
The history of Macy’s
Macy’s was founded in 1851 by Rowland Hussey Macy. The first shop was in Haverhill, Massachusetts. A few years later, the young man moved to New York where he opened a second Macy’s shop at 14th Street and 6th Avenue.
He later moved this shop to 18th Street and Broadway. In 1888, Nathan and Isidor Straus joined forces with R.H. Macy and in 1896 bought the entire company from him. It was at this time that the Macy’s in Herald Square was opened.
Since 1922, the company has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange. With the influx of new capital, the company began to make acquisitions and bought out competitors in Toledo (1924), Atlanta (1929), Newark (1929), San Francisco (1945) and Kansas City (1947).
In 1983, Macy’s management decided to expand beyond New York State and opened shops in New Orleans, Houston and Dallas.
