Macy's, Inc.
Company History
Macy's History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1858 in New York City, New York
When was Macy's founded?
Macy's was founded in 1858 in New York City, New York by Rowland Hussey Macy, making it 168 years old.
- Founded
- 1858
- Founding place
- New York City, New York
- Founders
- Rowland Hussey Macy
- Headquarters today
- New York, New York, United States
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1858–2026)
- Current CEO
- Tony Spring
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1858 | R.H. Macy & Co. opens |
| 1902 | Herald Square flagship |
| 1924 | First Thanksgiving Day Parade |
| 1929 | Federated Department Stores Formed |
| 1992 | Macy's Bankruptcy |
| 1994 | Merger with Federated |
| 2005 | May Department Stores acquisition |
| 2007 | Renamed Macy's, Inc. |
| 2015 | Bluemercury acquired |
| 2017 | Jeff Gennette becomes CEO |
| 2024 | Tony Spring and A Bold New Chapter |
| 2026 | Return to comparable sales growth |
- Where was Macy's founded?
- Macy's was founded in New York City, New York in 1858.
- Who founded Macy's?
- Macy's was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy.
- When did Macy's start?
- Macy's was founded in 1858.
- How old is Macy's?
- Macy's is 168 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Rowland Hussey Macy, a former Nantucket whaler, had several unsuccessful dry goods stores, including in Haverhill, Massachusetts, before opening R.H. Macy & Co. on Sixth Avenue in New York in 1858. He became known for fixed prices, cash sales and heavy newspaper advertising. The Straus family, which had run the store's china department, took full ownership in 1896 and moved the business to Herald Square in 1902.
Founders
Rowland Hussey Macy
Rowland Hussey Macy (1822-1877) was a Nantucket-born merchant and former whaler who opened R.H. Macy & Co. in New York City in 1858 after earlier retail ventures failed. He built the store on fixed prices, cash sales and aggressive newspaper advertising, and promoted Margaret Getchell to superintendent in 1866, one of the first women in a senior U.S. retail management role. Macy was born on August 30, 1822 and died on March 29, 1877. He is credited as one of the first major US retailers to sell at a single fixed price to every customer, a practice drawn from Quaker principles. Rowland Hussey Macy was born in 1822.
Key Milestones
R.H. Macy & Co. opens
Rowland Hussey Macy opens his dry goods store on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHerald Square flagship
Under the Straus family, Macy's moves to Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's stages its first Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFederated Department Stores Formed
Federated Department Stores, the later parent of Macy's, was formed in 1929.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMacy's Bankruptcy
R. H. Macy and Company filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 1992.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMerger with Federated
R.H. Macy & Co. emerges from bankruptcy by merging with Federated Department Stores.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMay Department Stores acquisition
Federated acquires The May Department Stores Company for about $11B, then converts most regional banners to Macy's in 2006.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRenamed Macy's, Inc.
Federated Department Stores changes its corporate name to Macy's, Inc.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgBluemercury acquired
Macy's buys prestige beauty retailer Bluemercury for $210M.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJeff Gennette becomes CEO
Jeff Gennette became CEO of Macy's in 2017. Retired as CEO in February 2024 after 40 years with the company.
Source: cnbc.comTony Spring and A Bold New Chapter
Tony Spring becomes CEO in February 2024 and launches a plan to close about 150 underperforming stores and invest in stronger stores and luxury banners.
Source: cnbc.comReturn to comparable sales growth
Macy's reports positive FY2025 comparable sales in March 2026 and raises FY2026 guidance after Q2 2026 comps rise 2.7%.
Source: macysinc.comMajor Acquisitions
The May Department Stores Company
2005Federated (later Macy's, Inc.) bought May to gain national scale and hundreds of additional department stores.
Bluemercury
2015To add a specialty prestige-beauty and spa format outside the department store.
STORY
2018To bring an experiential, rotating-theme retail concept and founder Rachel Shechtman into Macy's.
Keep researching Macy's
Macy's Company History FAQ
What are the major historical milestones of Macy's from 1858 to today?
Milestones include founding in NYC (1858), moving to Herald Square (1902), first Thanksgiving Day Parade (1924), Miracle on 34th Street film (1947), merger with Federated (1994), launch of Macys.com (1998), acquisition of May Co. (2005), nationwide Macy's rebrand (2006), and 'A Bold New Chapter' plan (2024).
When did Macy's open its world-famous Herald Square flagship store?
In 1902, Macy's moved uptown from 14th Street to 34th Street and Broadway in Herald Square, opening a nine-story department store featuring major wooden escalators (some of which remain operational today), declaring itself 'The World's Largest Store' in 1924.
How did the 1947 classic holiday film 'Miracle on 34th Street' immortalize Macy's?
The 1947 Academy Award-winning film 'Miracle on 34th Street' centered on the Macy's Herald Square flagship and the real Santa Claus working in Macy's Santaland, forever cementing Macy's as an essential cultural symbol of American holiday wonder.
When did Macy's launch its Macys.com e-commerce platform?
Macy's launched Macys.com in 1998 as one of the earliest digital department store storefronts, growing it over two decades into one of the top ten largest e-commerce apparel and home destinations in the United States, generating billions annually.
How did Macy's celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding in 2008?
In 2008, Macy's celebrated its 150th anniversary with year-long nationwide cultural celebrations, commemorative designer collections, a public red-star art installation at Herald Square, and special customer rewards.
How did Macy's renovate Herald Square in the 2010s?
Between roughly 2012 and 2015 Macy's carried out a multi-year, roughly $400M renovation of its Herald Square flagship, modernizing selling floors while restoring historic features such as its wooden escalators.
How did Macy's handle the challenges of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic?
During the pandemic closures in spring 2020, Macy's swiftly raised $4.5 billion in emergency financing, launched curbside pickup within weeks, accelerated digital fulfillment, and safely staged the 2020 Thanksgiving Parade as a broadcast-only television spectacle.
How is Macy's changing its store footprint in 2024 to 2026?
Under A Bold New Chapter, Macy's is closing about 150 underperforming stores, investing in its Reimagine 200 go-forward stores, and opening new Bloomingdale's, Bloomie's and Bluemercury locations.
How did Macy's start?
Macy's was founded in 1858 in New York City by Rowland Hussey Macy, a former whaling ship sailor. He opened a tiny dry goods store on 6th Avenue. His massive genius was theatrical retail marketing. Macy's was the absolute pioneer of modern retail: they were the first to feature an in-store Santa Claus (1862), the first to use massive illuminated window displays, and eventually built the iconic million-square-foot flagship store in Herald Square.
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