Walk into a Macy’s these days and you might feel one of two things. Either you're in a "Reimagine" store—bright, staffed, and actually featuring the shoes you saw online—or you're in one of those spots that feels like a time capsule from 2004. You know the ones. The carpet is a little threadbare. Half the escalators are perpetually "under repair." It turns out, that second vibe is exactly what Macy’s is trying to kill off.
Macy's is planning to close 66 stores in 2025 as part of a massive, surgical-level pruning of its American footprint. It’s part of a bigger plan they call "A Bold New Chapter." Honestly, the name sounds like a corporate self-help book, but for CEO Tony Spring, it’s a survival manual. By the time we hit the end of 2026, roughly 150 stores will have vanished.
That is 25% of their total square footage gone. Poof.
Why 2025 is the "Make or Break" Year
It’s easy to look at a headline about store closures and think, Oh great, another Sears situation. But the math here is actually kinda fascinating. These 150 "underproductive" locations—including the 66 slated for 2025—only account for about 10% of the company's total sales. Think about that for a second. They are holding onto a quarter of their real estate just to squeeze out a tiny fraction of their revenue. It’s expensive. It’s inefficient. And frankly, it’s dragging down the stores that actually make money.
The strategy isn't just about shrinking. If it were, the stock price would be in the basement. Instead, they are taking the cash saved from these closures and dumping it into 350 "go-forward" locations.
The 125 "Reimagine" Stores
Macy’s isn't just closing doors; they’re remodeling the ones they keep. They’ve identified 125 stores to turn into what they call "Reimagine" locations. These spots are getting:
- More salespeople on the floor (finally).
- Better visual displays.
- Upgraded "Backstage" off-price sections.
- Faster checkout tech.
The results are actually showing up in the books. In late 2025, Macy’s reported that these revamped stores saw sales growth of 2.7%. In the world of department stores, where everyone is fighting for scraps, 2.7% is basically a home run.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Closures
There’s a common misconception that Macy’s is dying. If you look at the 2025 financial reports, their net sales actually beat guidance in the third quarter, hitting $4.7 billion. They aren't bleeding out; they are amputating a limb to save the body.
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The reality is that consumer behavior has shifted. People don't do the "weekday mall crawl" anymore. If they go to a physical store, they want an experience, or they want to pick up an online order in five minutes. If a store can't offer that, it’s dead weight. Tony Spring, who used to run Bloomingdale's, is basically trying to "Bloomie-ize" Macy's. He wants more "theater" and less "warehouse."
Where are the 66 stores closing?
The 2025 list hits pretty much every corner of the country. We've seen closures in:
- California: Locations like Broadway Plaza in LA and Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights.
- Florida: Furniture galleries in Fort Lauderdale and Pembroke Pines, plus the West Shore Plaza in Tampa.
- New York: Several spots in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Rochester.
- Texas: A heavy hit in the Dallas and Houston suburbs, including the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano.
Clearance sales for many of these spots started in mid-January. If you've ever been to a Macy's liquidation, you know how it goes. 10% off for two weeks, then 30%, then eventually you're buying a mannequin for twenty bucks. It usually takes about 10 to 12 weeks for a store to go from "Business as Usual" to "Empty Shell."
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The Luxury Pivot: Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury
While the Macy's nameplate is getting smaller, the luxury side of the house is actually growing. They are planning to open 15 new Bloomingdale's and at least 30 new Bluemercury locations. Why? Because the margins are better. It's a lot easier to make a profit on a $400 bottle of perfume or a $2,000 handbag than it is on a $25 toaster.
Is Your Local Store Next?
If you’re wondering if your local shop is on the chopping block for the remaining 2026 wave, keep an eye on the "Backstage" section. Usually, if Macy's is investing in a permanent, high-quality Backstage area and refreshing the paint, that store is part of the "go-forward" 350. If the store hasn't been touched since the late 90s, the writing is probably on the wall.
Actionable Insights for Shoppers and Employees
If you're a regular Macy's customer or you work at one of these locations, here is what you need to do:
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For Shoppers:
Check your Star Rewards. If your local store is closing, your points and status still work at other locations and online, but you’ll want to use any "Macy’s Money" before the store shuts down to avoid the hassle of shipping returns. Also, the clearance sales are great for "hard goods" like cookware and luggage, but clothing sizes get picked over within the first three days.
For Employees:
Macy's has been relatively vocal about offering transfer opportunities to nearby stores. If you’re at a closing 2025 location, get your transfer request in early. The company is also providing severance and outplacement resources, so make sure you're talking to HR before the "liquidation" team takes over the building management.
For Investors:
Watch the "Comparable Sales" metric specifically for the 125 Reimagine stores. That is the only number that matters right now. If that number stays positive while the total store count drops, the strategy is working. If that number slips, then the "Bold New Chapter" might just be a long goodbye.
The retail landscape of 2026 isn't about who has the most stores anymore. It's about who has the best ones. Macy’s is betting $21 billion in annual revenue that they can be the latter. It’s a risky move, but standing still is a guaranteed way to end up like the malls they’re currently leaving behind.
To stay ahead of the changes, check your local mall's directory or the official Macy's store locator. If you see "Closing Soon" banners, the liquidation clock has already started, giving you roughly 60 to 90 days to visit one last time.