As Miamis Downtowners Arrive Later Macys Extends Hours A Bit

By Ashley D. Torres
Macy’s department store downtown is now open until 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays as a result of area population changes and shopping patterns.

"We requested the later opening because we saw people from the downtown area were coming later in the day," said Melissa Goff, Macy’s southeast region spokesperson.

In addition, a growing residential and business population in the downtown area has contributed to the extended hours starting July 1, Ms. Goff said. She added more people living in the area aren’t going straight home after work.

A recent Downtown Development Authority consultant’s study reported that the residential population downtown soared 81% over the past decade.

Alyce Robertson, authority executive director, said the change in hours is "Macy’s responding to that uptick of population in downtown."

She added that the later hours are great and "signals for downtown that we are reaching the 24/7 city."

Macy’s, 22 E Flagler St., previously closed at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturdays. Ms. Goff said that despite the change in closing time the store still has strong daytime business from area workers.

Ms. Goff would not comment directly whether the extended hours had resulted in new hires but said "schedules were adjusted."

The Macy’s store has a history downtown dating back 112 years.

In 1898, two years after the city’s incorporation, William Burdine opened his first clothing store in Miami. In 1912, Burdines became a department store and in 1956 was purchased by Federated Department Stores of Cincinnati. Federated announced in February 2004 that the stores would became Burdines-Macy’s. In September 2004, Federated announced it would drop the Burdines name changing all Florida stores to Macy’s.

The store has long been considered downtown’s anchor store.

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