b dec / September 20, 2005 11:12 AM

I'll bee very buzzed, flying about dangerously.

jen / September 20, 2005 11:12 AM

i can't say i'll be that upset since i'm not a chicago native, but i always think it's sad to see an old name with a lot of history disappear simply because it's bought out by a large corporation.

who shops at macy's anyway?

Andrew / September 20, 2005 11:13 AM

Personally, I'm amazed that Federated is willing to kill off a successful, popular brand name like this. Field's has far better name recognition in Chicagoland than Macy's.

Ultimately, it won't make much of a difference, but it smacks of New York arrogance.

Paul / September 20, 2005 11:13 AM

I'm very upset. The reasons are many.

The claim that Federated actually cares about the heritage of Field's is probably the same line that Target Corporation used when they killed off Dayton's in Minneapolis. The truth of the matter is that this is a cost-cutting measure, all in (prepare for marketing-ese dreck) an effort to strengthen their brand.

Chicago deserves far better than being just another outpost for another large, national chain. Even if Field's had the exact same stuff as Macy's - I mean exactly the same - it would still resonate stronger with ANYONE in Chicago. Can you imagine Christmastime at the Walnut Room at the Macy's on State Street? Disgusting.

This move is just part of a larger, disturbing homogenization effort that we see from many big companies. They see that Target and Wal-Mart don't have eighteen different nameplates, and feel they should adapt the same strategy. It may work ultimately and financially, but it totally eviscerates any emotional connection anyone had with Field's - ever. It tips Chicago just a touch closer to being Generic Big City.

Federated should reconsider but, let's face it, the die is cast.

Perch / September 20, 2005 11:34 AM

This is truly a travesty for people like myself who grew up going to brunch at the Walnut Room before Christmas and who looked forward to the window decorations outside. It is impossible for those things to "remain the same" as Federated claims, because Marshall Fields' brand was part of the aura. I've always felt pride when walking into the State Street store as if this was the greatest store on Earth and it was born here in Chicago. Better than Macys I always thought! This feeling will be ruined and I for one am very upset.

Regardless of the fact that Marshall Fields has been owned by major corporations for a while, this is like the Wizard coming from behind the curtain and revealing himself as a frail predictable man with no special powers. What will come of the Green motif? What about the Frango mints? This truly is a sad day for Chicago and its people. The Second City gets bought out by New York. It's like the Cubs, who have consistently underperformed, being bought by George Steinbrennar who promptly changes their name to the Yankees. YUCK!!!!!!!

Please reconsider Federated, you're killing part of the city's soul.

d4ve / September 20, 2005 11:34 AM

i'm a chicago native (if that accounts for anything) and frankly i don't care.
chicago means much more to me than some department store no matter what the history.
stick that mofo in a museum and let's get on with our lives yo.
that being said homogenization is killing us. oh and federated can suck it. heh.

anon / September 20, 2005 11:39 AM

C'mon, no one goes to Fields on State outside of the month of December. (Not even you.)

When they renovated the place a few years ago, I bought a lot of way under-cost clothes. There was a slight boost just after the remodel, and then it went back to nothing. I haven't been there since last fall, but when I would shop for clothes I was often the only one in the department. Yes, the main aisles downstairs and women's shoes usually are full, but go ahead and spend a 1/2 hour shopping for some pants. You'll have the dressing room to yourself.

A seven-story behemoth on State can't survive on memories of Christmas at the Walnut Room alone.

Benjy / September 20, 2005 11:41 AM

Isn't giving up 150 years of Chicago history and tradition OK in order to maximize shareholder returns? I mean what's so important about Field's that those few extra pennies in those dividend checks doesn't immediately justify?

Craig / September 20, 2005 12:15 PM

(Sub)urban homoginization really really sucks. Will American corporations keep steam rolling towards shopping districts of banal uniformity, or will they ever understand that diversity is the beauty of life?

anne / September 20, 2005 12:16 PM

I'd rather it change it's name than close (I wonder how long Carson Pirie-Scott can hold on). My grandmother worked for years and years for a department store in eastern New Jersey called Bamburger's that was bought out by Federated and made into a Macy's. If they hadn't been bought out, she probably would have been out of a job b/c the store just couldn't keep itself going without the national chain's help.

Wendy / September 20, 2005 12:22 PM

The State Street store is a destination spot. For at least the next five years, people are still going to be calling it Marshall Field's. And they'll invariably add "which was bought by some assholes who made it a Macy's." That's a great branding strategy!

steven / September 20, 2005 12:22 PM

Pretty soon all we're going to be is a bunch of WalMarts, Targets, McDonalds, Borders...every city is going to look the same. All local flavor will be lost. To be honest, I've shopped at Field's maybe once or twice, but I recognize an institution when I see one. Chicago is losing a great one right now.

And to all you who don't care...what happens when your Myopic Books becomes a Barnes and Noble? Or your Reckless Records becomes a MusicTown? Will you care then?

amyc / September 20, 2005 12:32 PM

C'mon, no one goes to Fields on State outside of the month of December. (Not even you.)

Um, yes I do. I don't usually buy much except tights and socks, but I like to walk around and see the Tiffany dome and eat in the basement food court (the mac & cheese is yummy).

Macy's is a New York store. Field's is a Chicago store. It ain't right to mix them up.

Lady / September 20, 2005 12:37 PM

eh- don't much care. keep marshall fields, i guess. keep the lunchy shoppers hap-bee.

bzzz bzz bee

Perch / September 20, 2005 12:45 PM

"I mean what's so important about Field's that those few extra pennies in those dividend checks doesn't immediately justify?" -- Benjy

Perhaps you are right, but it doesn't make it any less sad and tragic. While I understand and appreciate the importance of making money in our society, I personally dislike automatically equating "profitable" with "good". While it may be good for Federated and its shareholders, it's bad for Chicago.

Not to mention, I'm not so sure it's a good business decision but I'm not exactly qualified to make that determination given my obvious biases.

Steve / September 20, 2005 12:55 PM

While I understand Federated's desire to get more Macy's stores out there, what's the point of killing off the Field's brand to do so?

I mean, Gap just launched a *fourth* nameplate -- what would be the big whoop with Federated having more than one?

That said, I'm among those who only go to Field's at Xmas, but that's 'cuz I'm unwilling to pay their prices for anything besides Frango mints, which are delish no matter where they're made.

greg / September 20, 2005 1:08 PM

i won't be upset because i don't shop there, or really any department store. Obviously some people have a strong attachment to the name of Field's, but everything will stay pretty much the same. They're not knocking down the building, and people will still call it Field's for quite some time.

And this isn't the same type of homogenization as Walmart's and Borders being built everywhere. This new "Macy's" is going to have the same crap as the old "Field's." It's already homogenized. You can't equate this with replacing Myopic with Borders or Reckless with Sam Goody or whatever record stores are in malls. These local shops carry different products that attract different customers, in addition to keeping more of the revenue in the community.

ChgoRed / September 20, 2005 1:20 PM

I shop there about 6-10 times a year, and have been a loyal shopper for almost 10 years. Until today, that is. It was bad enough that they stopped making Frangos in the building. But this is worse. I don't care that they've been owned by a parent company for years. The point was that it was Fields, and everyone knew what you meant by that. Fields was all about Chicago to me; Macy's is all about New York. And I don't live in New York.

J / September 20, 2005 1:31 PM

Keep the christmas windows, and maybe the big tree, and do what you want with the rest. There's no reason why it can't be Macy's chicken pot pie and souvenir mug.

bam / September 20, 2005 1:41 PM

Macy's or Field's...neither excites me too much. Sure I enjoyed holiday outings to the Walnut room back in the day, but aside from the address of the flagship on State there's been little evidence of a Chicago connection for some time. If I had been in search 'local color' I wouldn't have turned to Fields, and I won't turn to Macy's. The product comes from the same big warehouse either way.

And to those decrying Manhattan arrogance, this ain't NYC trumping Chitown -- this branding plan comes straight out of the Queen City, aka Cincinnati. They've been working on building the Macy's brand through many an acquisition, not even close to the the first underperforming yet locally beloved brand they've killed off. The killed off around twelve other brands today as well.

B-School types applude moves such as this. Shareholder value is king in GW's ownership society. But when everyplace looks and sounds and smells like everyplace else, well...it's not good.

Alec / September 20, 2005 1:47 PM

Wake me when they change the name of Village Discount Outlet or Unique Thrift....

Benjy / September 20, 2005 1:54 PM

Perch, I was being sarcastic! Of course I think it horrible that a city like Chicago loses an institution and the only real benefit is that some rich people might get some pocket change.

Pete / September 20, 2005 2:03 PM

Most of the monetary value of a retailer is the real estate it's sitting on and the brand name. Which makes it ridiculous for Federated to junk the venerable Field's name. Let's face it--Field's atrophied under Target's ownership, fading badly from its decades-ago heyday. Nowadays you can get a much better department store shopping experience at Nordstrom's, which long ago surpassed Field's as the industry standard. The only reason most people still shop at Field's is from nostalgia for its bygone days of glory. Take away that name, and you take away the biggest reason to shop there. And changing the name to Macy's is also incredibly stupid, as Midwesterners have an inherent distrust of all things NYC. Federated is going to find out very quickly, and very painfully.

My guess is that we'll see the Field's name restored within the next few years, either by a sheepish Federated or by the next owner.

eep / September 20, 2005 2:10 PM

It pisses me off. The fact that Chicagoans still cling to the legacy of the 85 Bears, that a bunch of us still believe the Cubs will win a World Series, that many of us think that the Petronas Towers only beat the Sears Tower for the tallest building title because they used "cheat sticks" shows that we're stubborn people who cling to our Chicago traditions. Whether or not we shop at Field's more than once a year isn't the issue. The issue is that the change to Macy's means that one more bit of our city culture and history will be lost. And that pisses me off a whole hell of a lot.

I may love the Field's china department, but if they change to Macy's, I'll have to find a new place to splurge on my once-a-year place setting. Because I don't want to support Federated if they won't support the city.

Da Coach / September 20, 2005 2:18 PM

Da Bears!

Melody / September 20, 2005 2:19 PM

For at least the next five years, people are still going to be calling it Marshall Field's. And they'll invariably add "which was bought by some assholes who made it a Macy's." That's a great branding strategy! – Wendy

I agree with Wendy, that was almost verbatim what I was thinking when I read they were changing the name. It's a Chicago icon. Ever since I was about 4 (earliest I can remember) we've been going to Fields. And my mom always told me that if I ever got lost to go to Marshall Fields and stand under the green clock, and has continued telling me that for 22 years now. When I go with my friends downtown it's the same deal, everyone knows where that is. And what's going to happen to the green clock?! I think we as Chicagoans are very protective of our icons, landmarks and sports teams. I mean the Bears haven't won a super bowl in 20 years, but they still pack Soldier's Field. Why? Because they ARE Chicago. Just like Marshall Fields IS Chicago.

jennifer / September 20, 2005 2:21 PM

bzz bzz!

Mister C / September 20, 2005 2:39 PM

This is basically a very stupid decision embedded inside a smart one. Federated needed to rebrand the other 30 odd Marshall Fields scattered about the country (the dilution of the brand has probably been the primary factor in their slide over recent years--Why visit MF in Chicago when there's one in the megamall back home?) but changing the Flagship on State (and the other locals) is monumentally idiotic.
While I don't get misty-eyed about childhood retail experiences, the Marshall Field store (and the family) is/are inextricably linked with the history of Chicago. A history that Chicagoans are very aware and proud of, as the previous posts have made abundantly clear. From the original Marshall's decision to immediately rebuild after the Great Fire which helped spur the city's recovery (and the whole "Give the lady what she wants" legend), to the persistent century-old rumors that his son was killed or committed suicide in the Everleigh sister's brothel in the Levee district, all the way down to the whole Walnut Room/Christmas Windows/Meeting Under The Clock thing; the store is part of Chicago's story.
I second Pete's opinion about the name being restored. Federated might even back off right away after seeing the sh*tstorm that will roil over the next several weeks.

Eric / September 20, 2005 2:41 PM

I do know this. I would shop at Field's over another store just to support the local brand (even if it is owned by Cincinattians), but now there's no reason to go to a Macy's over anyone else. Fields is a part of Chicago. I had one grandmother who shopped there and one who worked there. Even if it has declined, it's still great.

As for:

"I mean what's so important about Field's that those few extra pennies in those dividend checks doesn't immediately justify?" -- Benjy

I know it was sarcasm, but maximizing shareholder value is a choice we have made as a society. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can choose to value worker's rights, or nostalgia, or the environment, or whatever.

sky / September 20, 2005 2:44 PM

Maybe I'm overly sensitive because it's that tim of the month, but honestly it makes me really sad...and this shit usually doesn't matter to me.....but every year, all the women in our family go and sit under the tree the day after thanksgiving...my mom did it with her mom..her mom with her mom...yada yada. We have a mass collection of the mugs, and it just means something special to me....something i want to share with my daughters one day...and not have to say, you know, you're great grandmother, grandmother, and i used to come here when we were your age...and it used to be called marshall fields. booooooo. i heckle.

NotSoHealthy / September 20, 2005 2:53 PM

Who says shareholder wealth has to take precedent in the business world? Social responsibilty should be first, then worry about yourselves. Take it from Johnson and Johnson
http://www.jnj.com/our_company/our_credo/credo_heading.htm

Leroy / September 20, 2005 3:04 PM

Not nearly as pissed as I was when Woolworth's, A & P, Hi-Lo, Zayre's and Venture went out of business. Now *those* were icons!

Business cycle, people. Out with the old, in with the new....

amyc / September 20, 2005 3:06 PM

Do we still get to keep the Field Museum, or is that becoming Macy's as well?

amyk / September 20, 2005 3:35 PM

This is a big deal - and State Street is a Chicago store (much more than any of the other stores) - Merz Apothecary, Gail Gand pasteries and now they're building a Frontera Cafe in the store as well.

My mom used to tell me when I was a little girl that heaven would be State Street Field's.

Heaven was never to be State Street Macy's.

Change the mall stores, change the Water Tower store - but never ever change State Street.

matt / September 20, 2005 3:36 PM

Nobody should be surprised. Federated did this with Rich's, Goldsmith's, and Lazarus in the South and Burdine's in Florida, all of which had long-established community roots. There, though, they made the silly intervening step of appending Macy's to the name for a short time before just ditching the original. At least there's been no mention of that happening here. Be that as it may, in this context, at least, griping about homogenization can get a bit out of hand. Marshall Field's isn't Myopic Books. It's a large chain of department stores that, while it may have important history and has clearly inspired sentimental attachments, is part of a huge public company. Seems to me that if building the Macy's brand is its priority, Federated is going to do its best to cater to and attract shoppers, and that may translate into an actually improved MF's.

If not, people will mourn the past, go elsewhere, and have all the memories that have them so exercised today.

Melody / September 20, 2005 3:43 PM

Ok, I know this won't change how a lot of us feel emotionally, but the city of Chicago is trying to preserve something... I got this off The Chicago Tribune website (hopefully I don't get in trouble for copying it!)

"Despite changing the name to Macy's, Field's may remain a fixture on State Street for some time to come. Two days after Federated closed its acquisition of May, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks formally recommended that the City Council bestow landmark status to the retailer's flagship store at State and Washington Streets.

If approved by the City Council, the landmark designation would give the city legal power to restrict building changes, including tinkering with the large nameplates on its exterior.

Preservationists and politicians have said changing the State Street store from Field's to Macy's would strip away a piece of the city's identity. Many also hoped a landmark designation would preserve the name of the State Street shopping icon."

Maybe this would help in some way...

Randall Pennyshine / September 20, 2005 3:46 PM

wait...so what happens to Field Gear clothing?

mike / September 20, 2005 4:08 PM

I didn't grow up here so I am not really emotionally bothered the way many are - - but I can still understand the resentment.

I abhor the superdupermegacorporatization of America too. It bothers me even more when I occasionally am outside the city. Every suburban and rural area looks the same. Sadly, the 'give the lady what she wants' Marshall Field's is no longer. What little of the nostalgia remains will not be the same with a Macy's label. Macy's to me is Miracle on 34th St. Field's played a huge role in Chicago history and in American retail business in general. But it is gone. This is one of those instances where the general public doesn't want to quickly forget, which to me is a rare and bittersweet thing.

* * *

This has made me think of the story of Montgomery Ward, who worked for Field's before starting his catalog company. I wonder how many people know how hard he fought to make the lakefront free and clear for the public, and that he was ostracized and lampooned in the press and by his contemporaries. It wasn't until after he died that people recognized what he did for Chicago. His stores went under - - they didn't follow people fleeing to the burbs. The former Ward's warehouses on the river are now stunning and exciting condos.

Ward's also left us with another lasting legacy: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which was written originally as a book to give away as a Christmas promotion.

christian / September 20, 2005 6:52 PM

Marshall Field's presented by Macy's

Atul / September 20, 2005 7:07 PM

I've only been living in Chicago for 4 years and I've barely even set foot in the Marshall Field's on State Street, but I still think of it as a Chicago landmark. The Tribune quote Melody put up is a little reassuring, though--I don't really mind if some Marshall Field's stores in North Dakota or even (to a lesser extent) the Chicago suburbs get changed to Macy's, but it'd be nice if at least the one on State Street could stay the same.

mike-ts / September 20, 2005 7:51 PM

Isn't it funny how people get roused and shout the words "tradition", "memories", and "landmark" about saving places that have been significant in their lives in the past, but have long since lost their relevance and significance? I mean Myopic Books and Reckless Records are viable and relevant businesses, but if Borders and Tower bought them and replaced their inventories with chain stuff, and just kept the name, what the name on the sign is, to me, is not as relevant as what's inside. Actually, it's like replacing your dead dog with a puppy of the same breed and saying, "let's give it the same name, and it's like pretending it's the same dog, and ole Scruffy never died if we pretend hard enough, did he?"

C'mon, really, isn't the name change just a final straw in the fact that the Field's that everyone has these hoary, "water-colored memories of the way we were" feelings about disappeared a long time ago, that Field's has for many people become a once a year at Christmas pit stop, in addition to not having been a locally owned stand-alone store for maybe as long as most of us have been alive.

Keeping the Field's name just to keep some long dead Field mystique alive when reality is 180 degrees different is silly. Field's is part of a conglomorate store chain, and whether they call it Field's, Macy's, or Ish Kabibble is irrelevant.

If you want Field mystique and nostalgia, you still have the Field Museum, which to my knowledge is not only still alive and vibrant, but on the rise, with all the new construction and plans. Better to have a genuine Field Museum than to have an obsolete shadow one on State.

Maureen / September 20, 2005 8:51 PM

I can't believe that these lousy so and sos are going to change Marshall Fields into Macy's! It's not just the name that bothers me. I'm not sure how many of you have been to a Macy's lately, but they are crap stores, compared to Fields. Like a lot of old-time department stores, the State street Marshall Fields is glamorous and fun! As a native Ohioan I'm well-acquainted with Federated and the way they try to stamp out anything that's pretty or cool. They come into your town and buy your store and the next thing you know you've got row upon row of polyester pants. Bunch of jackass Cincinnati natives. I could have told you that nothing good ever came out of that town.

pat / September 20, 2005 10:44 PM

I feel this is just another of the machinations turning the country into the United States of 'Do what'?

"Guess what Enid! We done got ourselves a Macy's over in the county seat, Crapleston. We'll be able to shop just like J Lo and Paris Hilton like they do in New York Citay and Los Angelees."

Meh.

I would have to say that Field's actually had started to turn itself around in the last few years from a marketing perspective. Their identity was nicely refreshed with the Think Field's ads, and the "green stripes" graphic identity. The store within a store concept that they've been trying out in the last year has been pretty nifty, since they were pulling in businesses local and national to set up a counter in their space (always fond of Merz Apothocary and Barbara's Best Sellers for one).

Initially when they were acquired by May last year, it sounded like they were treating Field's as a test bed for other retail experiements... Kind of exciting really. I've been to Macy's a few times in other states and never saw anything compelling there, or experienced service that was nearing adequate. I think the same could be said for garden variety mall Field's stores... But the store on State Street. Now that is a retail experience that harkens back to the old days, where you could shop, dine, go to the beauty parlor, get your shoes shined and book a vacation all in an afternoon. Those days are so long gone with the advent of Walwart, supercuts, mickey d's, and sneakers.

really looking at the whole hoo-haa, the story reads like the plot from the movie Mannequin where the classy store of retail is being threatened by the tacky store up the street, except without Kim Cattrall and Hollywood Montrose and the happy ending.

/end blatherous rant

grumpypants / September 20, 2005 11:01 PM

I just moved here a few years ago, and even I'm a little sad about the name change. And I completely empathize with those who are more upset--I grew up in Boston and am dismayed by the decision to change Filene's to Macy's.

But, as Maureen and others have pointed out, another part of the problem is that Macy's is simply a crappy store. Macy's is in Boston already; when I lived there, I always chose Filene's, which generally had better merchandise.

Rob / September 21, 2005 7:18 AM

I shop at Target. Who gives a shit.

jessica / September 21, 2005 7:18 AM

As someone who grew up with Field's, going downtown and looking in the christmas windows, eating lobster bisque in the Walnut room with my grandmother, it is was more than just a store, I'll be sad to see it go.

Jbelle / September 21, 2005 8:36 AM

Better to have a genuine Field Museum than to have an obsolete shadow one on State. mike-ts

True to some extent, but I think the point is that without State Street's icon--Marshall Field--there would be no Field Musuem (which adopted the surname of its greatest benefactor in 1905). Fine--change the names of all the mall-locked Marshall Fields across the Midwest, but for the sake of Chicago's history and to honor the philanthropic connections that built the city (Montogomery Ward story noted, too) bestow Landmark status on that gorgeous building on State Street and keep the name that helped build Chicago into the fabulous city that it is today.

The wonderful thing about communities--urban or not--is that they are more than their buildings, are more than the goods that are bought and sold within them. People with "fuzzy feelings" of Christmases past grow up and they grow up to care about the community they live in--Reckless Records, Marshall Fields and all. Never underestimate the role of nostalgia in the tight weave and success of a community, or in the success--or failure--of a brand!

(From a homesick Chicagoan, misplaced for a time in Boston, where they are also changing the name of a retail landmark, Filene's. I'll take Chicago anyday...Good luck! I'll be watching, Gaper's Block...keep me posted..you always do...xoxoxox)

mike / September 21, 2005 8:46 AM

"I shop at Target. Who gives a shit."

(Soon to be our new National Anthem)

Baltimore / September 21, 2005 9:20 AM

The FEDERATION!
I understand your concern, Your
Majesty; unfortunately, the Federation
has possession of our planet. The
law is in their favor.
No place is safe, if the Senate, doesn't condemn this invasion of the feredation. It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions as a democracy. If you win the election, Senator, I
know you will do everything possible to stop the Federation. I pray you will bring sanity and compassion
back to the Senate.

Kevin / September 21, 2005 9:40 AM

Much like the devastating breakup of "Pink Lady and Jeff" in 1978, I'll probably grieve this for 1.8 seconds. Sorry folks; I'm not a Chicago native so the attachment isn't there but I sympathize with the emotion.

e_five / September 21, 2005 10:27 AM

I will not be satisfied until there is one company in America owning everything.

Adam / September 21, 2005 10:51 AM

I wouldn't be surprised if Macy's becomes haunted, at least in the downtown location. There is so much history, so many people have worked there, many memories that are attached to Fields. Macy's is great, but....

Leo / September 21, 2005 11:06 AM

C'mon people. Stop talking like Marshall Fields has been a bulwark against corporate America. They did the same thing when they bought Hudson's. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Brendan / September 21, 2005 11:20 AM

Part of the problem with this name change, is that the shoppers/analysts/reporters fail to realize that Field's is an upscale store (at least on State Street), with Thomas Pink, Merz Apothecary, Dolce and Gabbana, a whoe slew of high-end stores within the store. In Chicago, it is more high-end then Macy's--or Bloomingdales for that matter. The CEO of Macy's is planning to re-emphasize brands like Polo Ralph Lauren (duh, there is already a boutique in State Street store), which I would say suggest a wholesale Macyfication of the store. Marshall Field's State Street had a chic edge to it that Macy's lacks (and I have been in both the Boston, SF, and NYC Macy's stores). This will likely lead to an identity-crisis for Field's/Macy's State Street-which it will never recover from. Let me ask you this: why, despite the constant change of owners, was there not a significant downsizing of the State Street store? Because it was Field's, was still beloved, and still felt unique. Federated will show no such support-having closed downtown stores in Columbus, Pittsburgh, Atlanta.

Jen / September 21, 2005 12:02 PM

The point is that we are not new york. We don't care to be New York and given that they're really only changing the name of the store as oppose to the merchandise, I don't see the point in changing the name at all. I went to a Macy's in Florida.....was not impressed.

Phineas / September 21, 2005 12:09 PM

No one named Palmer has owned that big hotel downtown for ages, but it's still the Palmer House, and may it always be so. Why not the same with State St. Field's?

It's not even just a Chicago icon. It's a piece of American social history, considering Marshall Field helped to invent the department store as we know it and defined to a large extent the whole American idea of shopping. Whatever you think of this accomplishment, it's shaped our whole society.

If they ever take the Field name off that building, I hope the whole Field clan crawls out of Graceland Cemetery and dispenses some undead justice.

robin.. / September 21, 2005 12:31 PM

three cheers for zombie marshall field, rising from the crypt for the sweet, sweet brains of the ladies who shop in the middle of a weekday because they don't work...

"grroaoaoaaoorrrruhhhggggghhhh...braaiiins, brrrAAAAIIIIINSSSSSSssss...field want brains! buy new mink shrug to match gapeing undead skuullllll! field eat brain bisque in brainroom before looking at brain displays in windows for brainsmas...ssslsluuuuurrrrrrpllllleeee. customer is always right to run screaming in fear from zombie fieeeelllld..."

sarah / September 21, 2005 1:18 PM

I'm not even the sort of person who cares about stuff like this. Yet, as a native Chicagoan, I can't help but feel that it would be disrespectful to our city to change the name of the landmark Marshall Field's to Macy's. I don't shop there, and really I don't care about the store itself. However, it is not right to treat the State Street Field's like just another store. The building has histrorical significance, and that should be respected.

allan / September 21, 2005 1:24 PM

As soon as I heard the news I started saving my own feces in a five gallon bucket that I am keeping in the walk in cooler in back of the store. Ideally I will have several of these stocked by the time the name changes next year. The very first day of the name change, just when Macey's has got there new signs up. I plan on driving them down and dumping them in front of the door. I will make a handwritten sign that I will staple onto an old broom stick handle and stick in one of the buckets of my business. What will the sign say you ask? I was thinking of "THIS IS SHIT!" or "Welcome to Chicago Macey's" or "Just Giving You Shit" but I am open to suggestions.

Melody / September 21, 2005 1:31 PM

How about "if it looks like shit, it is shit."

Sarah / September 21, 2005 1:33 PM

Wooooo..hopefully thin crust pizza and pervasive use of the word "soda" instead of "pop" will follow.

JP / September 21, 2005 2:51 PM

Allan, I love it. Can I donate some pooh? How about "Chicago says thanks"

Jen / September 21, 2005 3:01 PM

Like I said to a recent transplant here....

If you don't like "pop" then move somewhere where they will serve you "soda". And the pizza will be greasy and the crust like cardboard.

Rebecca / September 21, 2005 8:02 PM

I'll be very upset (and already am), and they should definately reconsider. Macy's? Give me a break. Chicago is the home of Marshall Field's!!

Moon / September 21, 2005 9:35 PM

Sarah, EVERYBODY says "soda" - only people from Wisconsin say "pop"

Mister C / September 21, 2005 10:57 PM

Robin,

That was some seriously funny shit!
As opposed to Allan's funny serious shit.

BTW- People from Minnestota say "pop" too. Yaaaaah, they do.

Allan / September 22, 2005 9:16 AM

Well I say "poop" as in— as many buckets as I can fill.

Mister C / September 22, 2005 1:28 PM

Your employees will need to be very careful when they go looking through the walk in cooler (and a very odd piece of new employee training/orientation will be in store).

Jeigh / September 26, 2005 9:10 AM

Screw NY and their stupid stores.
Macy's will cheapen State Street.
Even Carson's has more class.
Hackatooie! (spitting on ground)

Vicki / October 11, 2005 6:38 PM

Why can't we keep the name & the merchandise? Nothing wrong with it, just the people running it. Macy's was dead and gone long ago. Please, give us something to be proud of in Minneapolis! This is not progress it's going backwards!

lisa in indiana / December 2, 2005 8:44 AM

Everything is becoming "Macy's". Here in Indy they have also bought and renamed the Lazarus and LS Ayer's department stores (Lazarus is already Macy's and we are just waiting for Ayer's to change). My family and I come to Chicago several times a year -it is one of my most favorite cities in the world. Since our first son was born we make the annual trip to see the windows - he is 4 now and we are coming this weekend with him and his 10 month old brother to see the windows and other wonders of the city.
I can't imagine a Christmas season without a trip to Marshall Field's - I hope it doesn't happen.

scott / December 24, 2005 7:13 PM

I'll NEVER shop at Macy's.

Ryan / September 4, 2006 9:43 PM

Now that I look at it, it seems very upsetting. I am employee of Macy's. The store is beautiful, of course is varies by location. Some stores of very similar to Filene's and some are more high end than Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom. Recently, I went shopping in Boston and of course I wanted to see the mother of all Filene's. I took the train in from Quincy and I arrived under Filene's Basement. I personally think that the Basement is such an embarrassment to a beautiful fine store like Filene's. Even though they are completely seperate companies-many people still don't understand that. Anyway, by this time Macy's closed the entire building except for the first floor- which is called Filene's Clearance Center. I had to walk through Filene's Basment to get to the top of course-went up the escalator to the the main floor-which I still thought was part of the pathetic basement- it was like a junk store!! The first floor of Filene's had two grand chandelier's and beautful accessories and fine jewelry cases and a wonderful cosmetics department-my favorite! There was crap pilled all over the place, racks and close thrown around. The names of the prestigious cosmetics lines were engraved on the wall- Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, MAC, Clarins, Prescriptives, Chanel, Clinique, Stila, Benefit, Shesiedo... It was very, very depressing!! I did not enjoy myself at all!!! Then I walked outside and saw this beautiful building, with the clocks and the original Filene's signs- in caligraphy! I was so depressed- I felt so bad-It's like I could here the building crying!!! I felt like doing the same thing! I have met employees of Filene's Boston- and they tell me all of there sad stories- they were so upsetting. They told me that everyone who worked there were crying every day during the last few weeks! I was so sorry. I gave them a warm smile and welcomed them to Macy's. I have sen many other Filene's locations- but I never got the same feeling that I got when I saw the great Filene's of Boston!!. After that I went to old Jordon Marsh, now Macy's.
I feel so bad for the people of Chicago, they loosing the great Marshall Field's -I am so sorry! Love and honor your history and memories of your great department store! And I welcome all of you to Macy's!