Macy's will close 150 stores. We know the fate of Willow Grove location
Macy's will be shutting down 150 stores in a realignment effort, the retailer announced in a news release Tuesday.
By 2026, Macy's says it will shut down 150 "underproductive" stores, or roughly 30% of all locations, while prioritizing investments in 350 "go-forward" stores. It says it will close 50 stores by the end of this fiscal year.
In Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties, Macy's has three stores at Oxford Valley, Willow Grove and Montgomery malls.
A spokesperson for the Oxford Valley store said, "I can't comment" when asked if the store would be closing; a spokesperson at the Willow Grove store said it is "not closing," and the management office at the Montgomery Township store could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
But at Montgomery Mall, a person who answered the phone for the mall said he didn't know but was hopeful. "This store is doing great. I can't see them closing this store," he said.
Oxford Valley Mall in Middletown has become a construction site over the past year as developer Cornerstone Tracy is building two apartment buildings at the site.
The Macy's store and a JC Penney store are the two remaining department stores at the once bustling mall which also now includes a former Sears store that has been vacant. The former Boscov's store at the mall has been demolished to make room for the apartment complex.
More: Macy's at Neshaminy Mall to be redeveloped as gym, entertainment venue. Here's the plan
At nearby Neshaminy Mall, the Macy's store there closed down several years ago.
Macy's statement says this current move, dubbed by Macy's as "A Bold New Chapter," will allow it to refocus its resources and prioritize other stores.
“A Bold New Chapter serves as a strong call to action. It challenges the status quo to create a more modern Macy’s, Inc," said Tony Spring, Macy’s CEO, in a statement. "We are making the necessary moves to reinvigorate relationships with our customers through improved shopping experiences, relevant assortments and compelling value."
"Our teams are energized by the work ahead as we accelerate our path to market share gains, sustainable, profitable growth and value creation for our shareholders," said Spring.
Company expanding Bloomingdale’s, Bluemercury
Despite the shuttered Macy's locations, the company says it also wants to expand Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury by 45 locations altogether, signaling increased investment in the luxury sector.
The company announced plans for about 15 Bloomingdale's stores and at least 30 Bluemercury locations in the next three years. About 30 Bluemercury stores are set for remodeling, as well.
Peg Quann is a municipal and community reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times and Intelligencer. Follow her on X at @pegquann.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: As Macy's closes 150 stores, are Oxford Valley, Montgomery on list?
