Macys opening today
There are about 200 people lined up on SW 5th, awaiting the grand RE opening of Macys in the old Meier and Frank building downtown. Wow, and on such a chilly morning. I hope Macys was buying the coffee.
I am really excited to see at least one downtown construction project come to an end.
Isn’t that 5th?
corrected. Thanks.
I was at the private gala/fundraiser event Wednesday night. Macy’s has really done a great conversion of the former dark interior of this building. I like the fact they’ve kept a few touches of the old Meier & Frank like the clock. It’s worth swinging by even if you don’t like Macy’s just to see what they’ve done.
I will say this is one Portland phenomenon that I don’t get. Not growing up here and never having heard of Meier and Frank before I just didn’t get people beig upset when they closed – or the thrill of Macy’s being open.
Or maybe it’s just ’cause I hate shopping :)
meh… macy’s to me is only in manhattan on 34th.
meir and frank was portland. it makes me sad that this is what it has come to. agreed that perhaps the construction can start to wane a little.
…and suprisingly it takes until the fourth comment to hit the “everything sucks, what can’t I complain about” attitude i love so much in ptown!
The reason I am excited is that it increases the shopping options for downtown. If I want to get a sweater or some pants or a gift for my honey, the options downtown get limited quite quickly. I could go bargain @ the Rack or Ross, but the choices are limited. I could go boutique @ Banana or Marios or Columbia or NikeTown or the Pearl, but that gets expensive. Nordstroms is an option and so is Pio Place mall, but again, the selection and price point seem lacking. Meier and Frand and now Macys hits that price point and selection to a tee. Need sheets? Towels? a Mixer? maybe a card too? They will have it and if my memory serves correctly, at a reasonable price. Also, they are within lunchtime walking distance when the holidays come.
Please don’t throw stones at Portlanders who want to hold on to some sort of history in the city. Many a Portland couple proposed to each other or bought their wedding rings at the venerable Meier and Frank downtown. That says something for heritage and memories.
I saw the news report for Macy’s opening on one of the TV news channels. Am I the only one who was disgusted by the complete gluttony of the consumers depicted? I mean, seriously… I know I’m new to town, but this is Macy’s. Big whoop. Do Portlanders get this excited when a Chuck-E-Cheese opens? (Wait a second… I’D get excited for a Chuck-E-Cheese…) It reminds me of when I was in Syracuse, New York in grad school. They got a Chili’s. There was a 2-1/2 hour wait at dinner. For Chili’s. Good grief.
Irk, what you’re not understanding (because you haven’t been here long enough) is that this particular location isn’t just a Macy’s. It’s the location that has a very long history as Meier & Frank.
So many cities lost their downtown department store. Ours lost a lot of history, but at least the store remains. The remodel and reopening, even as a Macy’s instead of Meier & Frank, is an important connection between the future and the past for downtown Portland.
Like I said, you haven’t been here long enough, so you can’t be expected to understand. Eventually, Portland will get other chain stores that aren’t here yet. Stores like H&M, for example, and people will get excited – but that will be far different than the excitement of seeing a landmark reopen.
Also, before badmouthing Portland and Portlanders, you might want to consider why you left Syracuse in the first place. I’m not saying Portland is perfect, but it’s a very special city and a spectacular place to call home.
Personally, I’m hoping Macy’s brings back the silly 12 days of Christmas window displays this year.
I can totally get on-board with the reopening of M&F building (I’ve been in Portland on-and-off again since 1992). My problem was the focal point of the news was on Macy’s opening and its free gift cards ranging in value from $50-$500. People lined up for the gift cards and then came in to buy over-priced product. As an addendum, the stories showed the clock and the escalators. I must say, Macy’s did a great job renovating the old bird, but the focal point on “OOOOH! Another store!” was frightening. You’d think the news media would figure out the audience by this point (but, hey, it’s not like I’m a journalism media professor… oh, wait… yes I am).
I love Portland and have for 15 years. One of the things that has always appealed to me is the anti-consumerist culture, but, unfortunately, as more people move here, we start to see that style water down.
Maybe I’m wrong?
As for Syracuse, I’m definitely not going to say anything positive except that the school was pretty good. I’ve lived all over the country (Michigan, Tennessee, California, Arizona, North Carolina, New York, Oregon) and Syracuse is pretty low on my list.
My point (which was obviously poorly made) is that landmarks are one thing — post-stage capitalistic greed is something completely different.
YAY PORTLAND! *ahem*