Macy's to close at Brookdale in Brooklyn Center

Macy's to close at Brookdale in Brooklyn Center
# BY WENDY ERLIEN SUN NEWSPAPERS

January 8, 2009

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Brookdale Shopping Center is taking another hit with Thursday's announcement that Macy's plans to close its store at the mall in Brooklyn Center.

The mall lost another anchor store - Steve and Barry's - last fall when it closed due to a bankruptcy filing.

The Brookdale Center site is one of 11 Macy's stores nationwide that was classified as "underperforming" and slated for closing. The Brookdale store, which opened in 1996, has 72 employees.

Other locations to be closed are in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

"These closings are part of our normal-course process to prune underperforming locations each year in order to maintain a healthy portfolio of stores," Macy's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Terry Lundgren said. "While new store growth has slowed in the current economy, our long term strategy is to continue to selectively add new stores while closing those that are underperforming."

On the same day the store closings were announced, Macy's Inc. reported a 4.7 percent drop in sales for the last five weeks ending Jan. 3, compared to last year. Sales in November and December were down 7.5 percent.

Final clearance sales at the 11 closing locations, with the exception of Hawaii, will begin next week.

"The decision to close stores is difficult and often occurs when the market changes, new competing shopping centers are opened nearby to existing older ones or when customers change shopping habits," Lundgren said.

Store employees may be considered for open positions at other Macy's locations. Those who are laid off due to the closing will get severance benefits and outplacement assistance.

Barnes and Noble Bookstore and Sears currently remain as the anchor stores at Brookdale Center.