Macy’s will open four off-price outlet stores in the tri-state area..
The new Macy’s Backstage stores will stock clearance items and “special buys from well-recognized fashion brands” at 20% to 80% discounts, the retailer announced Tuesday
The outlets will debut this Fall in Sheepshead Bay (2027 Emmons Ave.), at Queens Place in Elmhurst, Queens, the Melville Mall in Huntington, Long Island, and the Lake Success Shopping Center in New Hyde Park.
Each location is expected to hire about 30 associates.
The Backstage stores will average about 30,000 feet — smaller than a traditional Macy’s — and sell clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories, housewares and textiles. Spacious fitting rooms and free Wi-Fi are promised and one yet-to-be designated location will test market a “cafe concept” for shoppers. While the new off-price outlets will accept credit cards, they will not honor Macy’s coupons.
Macy’s is joining other higher-end retailers with discount outlets, such as Nordstrom, which spun off the Rack stores; Saks Fifth Avenue, which has Saks Off Fifth; Neiman Marcus, which has Last Call shops and even its sister retailer, Bloomingdale’s, which has The Outlet Store,’ to attract bargain buyers drawn to discounters such as Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx and Ross.
Macy’s has been working on the concept of its discount stores for the last six months, chief innovation and business development officer Peter Sachse said in a statement. “We will test and learn to see what resonates most with customers so we can adjust before rolling out additional locations,” he said.
