In 1858, a small dry goods shop opened its doors on the comer of 14th Street and 6th Avenue in New York City. Over 150 years and 800 stores later, we've proudly grown into "America's Department Store," bringing our customers an experience that goes beyond just everyday shopping. Take a look back at some of the defining moments in Macy's history.
1830
Shillito's is founded in Cincinnati by John Shillito.
1841
Eben Jordan and Benjamin L. Marsh open Jordan Marsh in Boston.
1851
F&R Lazarus & Company is founded in Columbus, OH by Simon Lazarus.
1858
Rowland H. Macy opens R.H. Macy & Co. as a dry goods store in New York City.
1865
Wechsler & Abraham (later Abraham & Straus) is founded in Brooklyn, NY by Abraham and Joseph Wechsler.
1867
1870
Goldsmith's is founded in Memphis.
1872
Bloomingdale Brothers, Inc. is founded in New York City by Lyman and Joseph Bloomingdale.
1873
Emil Frank partners with Aaron Meier to create Meier & Frank's, a dry goods store in Portland.
1898
Burdines is founded in Miami.
1902
Macy's moves to Herald Square in New York City.
1907
Bullock's is founded by John Bullock and P.G. VVinnett in Los Angeles.
1924
Macy's Herald Square location becomes the largest store in the world, following completion of 7th Avenue addition. 10,000 people watch Macy's first parade, now known as Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®
1929
Federated Department Stores, Inc. (now known as Macy's, Inc.) is formed as a holding company by several family-owned department stores, including Abraham & Straus and F&R Lazarus (along with its Cincinnati-based subsidiary, Shillito's) and Filene's of Boston.
1930
Bloomingdale's joins Federated.
1934
Inspired by Parisian merchandisers, Fred Lazarus is the first to arrange clothing by size rather than style in American stores.
1939
Federated and Allied stores make shopping easier during difficult economic times by offering credit, a "pay when you can" policy and developing a reputation for community involvement in times of crisis.
1946
The first Macy's Flower Show debuts as a fragrance festival at the Union Square store in San Francisco.
1956
Miami-based Burdines becomes a division of Federated.
1959
Federated acquires Dayton, Ohio-based Rike's and Memphis-based Goldsmith's. May Company acquires Hecht's in Washington, DC and Baltimore.
1976
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks® makes its spectacular debut.
1988
Macy's purchases Bullock's and I. Magnin from Campeau Corporation.
1989
Federated's employee volunteer program, Partners in Time, is founded at Rich's / Goldsmith's as a way to give back to the community.
1992
A new public company - Federated Department Stores, Inc. - emerges in February with 220 department stores in 26 states and annual sales of approximately $7 billion. The former Allied Stores Corporation is merged into Federated.
1994
Federated acquires the Joseph Horne Co. of Pittsburgh, adding 10 Pennsylvania stores to its Lazarus division. In December, Federated acquires R.H. Macy & Co., creating the largest department store retailer in the nation.
Macy's East, headquartered in New York City, merges with A&S /Jordan Marsh to form a $4 billion retailing division of Federated.
Macy's East, headquartered in New York City, merges with A&S /Jordan Marsh to form a $4 billion retailing division of Federated.
1995
Federated acquires Broadway Stores, Inc. based in Los Angeles, CA.
1996
macys.com is launched, offering customers the convenience of online shopping.
The Federated Department Stores Foundation is reactivated as the company's primary vehicle for charitable giving. Contributions made by Federated, its divisions and the Foundation total 57.8 million.
The Federated Department Stores Foundation is reactivated as the company's primary vehicle for charitable giving. Contributions made by Federated, its divisions and the Foundation total 57.8 million.
1998
Federated launches a new Macy's By Mail catalog and re-launches macys.com.
2003
Federated integrates the Macy's nameplates with its regional department stores - creating Bon-Macy's, Burdines-Macy's, Goldsmith's-Macy's, Lazarus-Macy's and Rich's-Macy's.
2006
Macy's becomes a national brand as more than 400 stores changes their names to Macy's in one day.
2007
Federated Departments Stores, Inc. becomes Macy's, Inc.
2008
The company celebrates Macy's 150th birthday on October 28.
Macy's, Inc. launches a corporate-wide sustainability initiative to guide a wide variety of efforts to protect the environment.
Macy's, Inc. launches a corporate-wide sustainability initiative to guide a wide variety of efforts to protect the environment.
2009
Macy's and Bloomingdale's launch social media programs to reach customers in new ways.
Macy's airs the Yes, Virginia television special on CBS, as part of the Believe™. holiday campaign.
Macy's airs the Yes, Virginia television special on CBS, as part of the Believe™. holiday campaign.
2010
Macy's, Inc. ends the year with over 1.2 million fans on Facebook.
2011
Macy's, Inc. expands its global reach by offering International Shipping to customers on macys.com.