MACY’S customers can look forward to a whole new shopping experience as the retailer introduces a mini version of its department stores.

The new Market by Macy’s only opened last weekend, but shoppers are already predicting its demise.

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According to local ABC affiliate WCPO-TV, Macy’s hosted the grand opening of its new small concept store on Saturday, August 24th.

The mini-store opened at the Rookwood Commons & Pavilion shopping center in Cincinnati, Ohio, replacing the vacant Bed Bath & Beyond store.

At the store’s preview night, children from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America received $200 each for school clothing.

The new store is one-fifth the size of a typical Macy’s, making it easier for customers to navigate without having to climb escalators or walk long distances between departments.

In addition to Macy’s own brands, the small concept stores also sell popular brands.

Macy’s has developed its “Market by Macy’s” concept specifically for Generation Z shoppers and hopes to make it much easier for customers to find the items they want.

Although Macy’s has high hopes for the new store concept, customers had different feelings.

Many predicted the failure of Market by Macy’s and accused the store of not responding to customers’ wishes.

“Macy’s keeps coming up with new ‘initiatives’, but after a half-hearted attempt they disappear again,” began one shopper on Facebook.

“They are just too arrogant and full of hubris. They REFUSE to listen to shoppers because they know better. Some of the Macy’s executives should read the comments in Facebook groups and try harder. No!”

Another customer expressed similar sentiments, feeling like he was in a downward spiral with Macy’s.

“They’ve fought the good fight, it’s time to give up. They’ve really tried to make it work for the past few years but now it’s starting to fall apart again. Sad,” they wrote.

REDUCE SIZE

The small format concept was introduced in 2020 with the opening of the first store in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

By fall 2023, there were 12 Market by Macy’s locations in the United States.

The Cincinnati store is just one of many mini-stores Macy’s will open nationwide in the coming months.

In October, the retail giant announced plans to open up to 30 Market by Macy’s stores by 2025.

“We are excited to accelerate the expansion of our small format strategy as we continue to refresh and reposition our store portfolio to better serve our customers,” said Adrian Mitchell, Macy’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer, according to a company press release.

“Our small-format stores are efficient to operate, offer customers a shopping alternative within our omnichannel ecosystem and represent a unique opportunity to target busy shopping centers.

“With our small format strategy, we aim to leverage the full power of the Macy’s brand to deliver sustainable, profitable sales growth for Macy’s, Inc. beginning in 2024.”

The Market by Macy’s store expansion comes at a time when the retailer is working to close nearly a third of its fully stocked stores in the U.S.

Macy’s announced in February that the company would close 150 underperforming locations by 2026, with 50 of them scheduled to close by the end of this year.

Other retailers are also struggling with the crisis and are forced to close numerous locations.

Rite Aid confirmed that it would close 117 stores in the same state following its bankruptcy filing.

In addition, JCPenney abruptly closed another location following a tragedy, after previously closing 100 stores – and four more stores are at risk.