You’ve probably seen the massive sign hanging over 34th Street in Manhattan. It boldly claims to be the "World’s Largest Store." It’s iconic. It’s huge. It’s the biggest Macy's in the world, and for nearly a century, it was the undisputed heavyweight champion of retail space on the entire planet. But if you’re looking for a simple "yes" or "no" about its current world-record status, things get a little messy.
Honestly, the "biggest" title is a bit of a moving target these days.
Is Macy’s Herald Square Still the World’s Largest?
Strictly speaking? No. If we’re looking at the Guinness World Records, the Shinsegae Centum City department store in Busan, South Korea, snatched the crown back in 2009. That place is a monster—over 3 million square feet. To put that in perspective, Macy’s Herald Square clocks in at about 2.1 million square feet of total space, with roughly 1.1 million square feet dedicated to actual selling floor.
But don't tell a New Yorker that.
For most of us, Macy’s Herald Square is still the "biggest" because of its cultural gravity. It occupies almost an entire city block. It’s an 11-level labyrinth where you can literally get lost looking for a specific pair of Levi’s. Even if it lost the technical world record to a South Korean mega-complex, it remains the largest department store in the United States.
It's a beast.
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The Weird History of the 34th Street Giant
Macy's didn't start at Herald Square. It actually began as a small dry goods shop on 14th Street in 1858. By the time they moved uptown to the current spot in 1902, they were already thinking big.
There’s this funny bit of petty history involving a small building on the corner of 34th and Broadway. You’ll notice the Macy’s building doesn't actually own the corner. Why? Because a competitor bought that tiny plot of land specifically to stop Macy’s from owning the full block. Macy’s just built around it and threw a giant shopping-bag-shaped billboard over it. Problem solved.
In 1924, they completed the Seventh Avenue addition. That’s the moment they officially became the biggest store in the world. They held that title for 85 years. That is a wild run for any business.
Those Famous Wooden Escalators
You can’t talk about this store without mentioning the wood. Seriously.
The Herald Square flagship was the first building in the world to use modern escalators. Some of those original wooden escalators from the 1920s and 30s are still chugging along today. They have this specific "clack-clack" sound and a smell that's a mix of old cedar and machine oil. It’s weirdly nostalgic.
Most people use them just for the "vibes," but they’re actually a feat of engineering that survived a century of millions of tourists stomping on them.
What’s Changing in 2026?
If you haven't been to the 34th Street store lately, it looks a bit different. Under the "Bold New Chapter" strategy led by CEO Tony Spring, the store is undergoing massive shifts. They aren't just selling socks and mattresses anymore; they’re trying to turn the flagship into a "discovery-led" destination.
Basically, they’re betting big on luxury beauty.
The ground floor is a total makeover zone. They’ve moved the handbags—which used to be the first thing you saw—to make room for a massive, 54,000-square-foot beauty department. We’re talking Chanel, Dior, and niche brands like Augustinus Bader. By the end of 2026, they’re even planning to open "relaxation rooms" for complimentary beauty services.
It's a pivot. They know they can't just be a warehouse for clothes anymore; they have to be an experience.
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Navigating the 1.1 Million Square Feet
If you’re planning to visit the biggest Macy's in the world, do yourself a favor: wear sneakers. This isn't a "quick trip" kind of place.
- The Shoe Floor: The second floor is basically a shrine to footwear. It’s about 39,000 square feet of just shoes.
- The Food: There are five Starbucks inside. Five. Plus a champagne bar, a McDonald’s, and various other spots. You can literally eat your way through the floors.
- The Furniture: Way up on the 9th floor, it gets quiet. That’s where the mattresses and couches live. It feels like a different world compared to the chaos of the perfume counters downstairs.
Realities of the Flagship Experience
Look, let’s be real for a second. Shopping at the Herald Square Macy’s can be stressful. It’s crowded. The elevators are often slow because everyone is trying to move between 11 floors. If you go during the holidays, especially around the time of the Thanksgiving Day Parade (which ends right at the store's front doors), it’s a madhouse.
But there’s something about the scale of it that still feels special.
It’s one of the few places where you can see a $2,000 designer handbag and a $10 pack of underwear in the same building. It’s a microcosm of New York City commerce.
Why the Size Still Matters
In an era where everyone is shopping on their phones, a 2.1-million-square-foot building seems like an expensive dinosaur. But for Macy’s, this building is an asset worth an estimated $3 billion. It’s more than a store; it’s a real estate powerhouse.
The size allows them to host events no one else can. The Flower Show in the spring, the Santaland experience in the winter—these things require an absurd amount of square footage that simply doesn't exist elsewhere in Manhattan.
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Actionable Tips for Your Visit
Don't just walk in the front door and wander. You'll regret it.
- Start at the Top: Take the express elevators to the 11th or 9th floor and work your way down. It’s much easier on your legs, and the crowds thin out as you go higher.
- Use the Visitor Center: It’s on the Mezzanine level. If you’re a tourist, they sometimes have discount passes or at least maps that will save you twenty minutes of wandering.
- The "Secret" Entrances: The 34th Street main entrance is a tourist trap. Try entering from the Seventh Avenue side or the 35th Street side for a much faster way into the building.
- Check the Calendar: If you’re there in late March, the Flower Show is spectacular. If it’s November, Santaland is the goal—but you must make a reservation weeks in advance.
The biggest Macy's in the world might have lost its official global title to South Korea, but in terms of history, footprint, and sheer "New York-ness," it's still the king of the department store world. Whether you're there for the luxury beauty renovation or just to ride a 100-year-old wooden escalator, it’s a rite of passage for anyone visiting the city.
Plan your route, keep your receipt, and maybe bring a portable charger—you’re going to be in there a while.