Locals remain loyal to Macy's

COEUR d’ALENE — Jim Helgeson was after a dress shirt Friday and found what he was after at Macy’s.

“I think they have good clothing and a good value,” he said as he walked down through the Silver Lake Mall, carrying a bag with Macy’s red star logo.

The Coeur d’Alene man said he shops at the retailer often.

“It’s the only clothing store like that in the mall,” Helgeson said, "If you want dress clothing, it's a great place to go. That’s why I like it.”

Macy’s could use more customers like Helgeson.

The nationwide retailer, known for carrying top fashions, announced Thursday plans to cut 3.5% of its workforce and close five sites to cut costs amid slowing sales. The move will affect about 2,300 jobs.

Stores slated for closure next year are in Arlington, Va.; Lihue on Kauai, in Hawaii; Simi Valley and San Leandro in California and one in Tallahassee, Fla. 

Two Macy’s stores remain in Idaho: Coeur d’Alene and Boise. Both survived the round of closures announced in 2021.

There used to be Macy’s stores in Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Nampa, Moscow and Twin Falls, but over the past eight years, all have shuttered.

Macy’s is a longtime anchor tenant at the Silver Lake Mall, which has enjoyed a rejuvenation since a 2021 purchase by Dave and Barbara Knoll. Their son, Brian, oversees operations.

There is also a Macy’s men’s store at the mall. 

Don Brown was walking laps at the mall and passed the entrance to Macy’s.

“It’s a pretty good store,” he said.

Brown said when he shops at Macy’s, it's usually for dress shirts and pants.

He hopes it remains open, having seen the mall grow from numerous storefront vacancies to being full again, under new ownership in the past few years.

“They did a great job of bringing it back,” he said. 

If Macy’s closed, Brown said, “It would be a tremendous loss.”

Friday, a flow of customers came and went at Macy’s. Shoppers perused purses, chatted with clerks and one woman returned a few sweaters. There were small signs offering discounts of 20% to 35% on some items.

Troyce Borgerd, a loyal Macy’s customer, came away without buying anything this time, though she said she usually does.

“I love the makeup counter,” she said. “The people are very nice in there.”

But she said, while she was there, she was wondering if they’re going to close this store.

"I was going to ask them, but I didn’t," she said.

Does Borgerd want the Coeur d'Alene Macy’s to remain?

“Oh, definitely,” was her answer.