Macy’s to covert two former Gottschalks this fall

-- Home Textiles Today, 6/11/2009 11:34:00 AM

Cincinnati -- Macy’s Inc. said today that it plans to open two new stores in the Central Valley area of California in the fall.

Both sites are former Gottschalks stores, for which Macy’s submitted successful bids in the defunct regional department store chain’s bankruptcy process.

The stores are located in Fresno’s River Park section, and in the Visalia Mall in Visalia. The River Park unit is newer – built in 2004 -- measures 107,000 square feet; the Visalia site, which is nine years older, is larger at 150,000 square feet.

Once “minor remodeling and re-fixturing” is completed at both stores, Macy’s said they will be open for business in advance of the holiday selling season.

Each store is expected to offer a wide selection of apparel and accessories for the whole family but only “a limited assortment” of home merchandise.

“With these new locations, Macy’s is expanding its presence and serving new customers in the important Central Valley market,” said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and ceo. “We look forward to offering a locally-focused combination of fashion and value for which Macy’s is well known, and to being active members of the community.”

Macy's, which runs corporate offices both here and in New York City, operates more than 840 units – under the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s nameplates -- in 45 states, Washington D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico. The company reported fiscal 2008 sales of $24.9 billion.