Our History

1822 - Born To Shop
On August 30, Rowland H. Macy is born on Nantucket. The son of seafaring father, Rowland's entrepeneurial spirit would guide him on a different route.

1858 - Modest Beginnings
It was a crisp October day in New York City. R. H. Macy opens a small, dry goods emporium where first day sales totaled $11.06. The store that would become known worldwide as Macy's is born.

1859 - Getting the Word Out
Ever a believer in promotion, R. H. Macy spends $2,800 on advertising during his store's inaugural year. His investment pays off - Macy's finishes year one with $85,000 in sales.

1866 - She's a Star
The first woman to hold an executive position in retail, Margaret Getchell, leads Macy's into post Civil War prosperity.

1870 - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Macy's sets new holiday standards with elaborate, illuminated window displays and the introduction of the first in-store Santa Claus.

1902 - Moving on Up
Having outgrown its modest storefront, Macy's moves uptown. On 34th Street and Herald Square, the new location establishes a veritable mecca for shoppers from around the world.

1924 - The Expansion Heard Around the World
The 7th Avenue addition is completed, making Macy's "The World's Largest Store."

1924 - Sis! Boom! Bah!
In the spirit of the roaring twenties, a handful of Macy's immigrant employees organized a Thanksgiving Day Parade. The procession featured floats, bands, animals from the Central Park Zoo and 10,000 onlookers. A rousing success, it began a tradition still alive today.

1926 - Titon Does it Again!
William Titon, Macy's Wine & Food Buyer, introduces the world to the baked Idaho potato. His delicious discovery quickly becomes a staple of the American diet.

1927 - The Parade Goes Airborne
The live zoo animals in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are replaced with giant balloons. Felix the Cat is one of the first such balloons to appear in the parade.

1932 - A Boon for the Bath
William H. Winner, a buyer for Macy's, introduces colored bath towels to Macy's shoppers.

1934 - Try This On For Size
Macy's leads a change in the way we shop. Clothes become standardized according to size and are designed in a variety of styles, colors, and prices.

1942 - A Patriotic Pause
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is canceled, and the rubber that would have been used for balloons is donated to the war effort. This is the only interruption in the parade's history.

1945 - The Balloons are Back!
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade returns to New York City following the Allied's victory in WWII.

1947 - Holiday Miracles Happen Here
A visit to Macy's becomes a holiday must when "Miracle on 34th Street" is released. The hit movie wins Edmund Gwenn an Oscar for his portrayal of Santa Claus.

1948 - Televising a Tradition
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is televised for the first time on NBC. The annual event has since become a tradition for more than 60 million viewers.

1953 - On the Fashion Forefront
Polyester hits the scene. Macy's is among the first department stores to offer a variety of styles in this hot new fabric.

1959 - New Styles that Stretch
Spandex is introduced to the fashion world. Macy's gets on board, realizing that this new fabric will revolutionize swimsuit styles.

1971 - Catering to the Home Gourmet
Macy's West opens The Cellar, changing the way people shop for housewares. Still a concept on the cutting edge, the now-renowned Cellar lets shoppers stock their kitchens with everything from coffee to Cuisinarts.

1980 - And the Winner Is...
Macy's and NBC win an Emmy for the Thanksgiving Day Parade. A highlight of the show is the debut of a 100-foot long Superman balloon - the longest ever in the parade.

1994 - Building a Winning Team
Macy's merges with Federated Department Stores Inc., forming the largest department store company in the United States

1996 - Ahead of the Internet Trend
Macy's launches macys.com - an online shopping site featuring the best of Macy's and a world of convienence.

1997 - Enter "Interactive Retail Technology"
Macy's implements a process that allows women to simply define their bodies - height, hips, coloring, etc. - to view selected bathing suits on images of look-alike models.

1998 - Coming to a Mailbox Near You
Neither Rain, nor Sleet, nor Snow can stop a Macy's Shopper. Macy's launches the new Macy's By Mail catalog.

2000 - Going Global
San Juan, Puerto Rico becomes home to the first Macy's store outside the continental United States.