Former Marshall Field's Customers Take To The Chicago Streets To Protest Macy's
Chicagoans don't like change. (Take Wrigley Field, for example, in all its jumbotron-less glory.) Yes, they are a strange, stubborn people who do not eat ketchup on hot dogs and who put the sauce on top of their pizza. And they don't like Macy's. Why? Because Macy's did away with Marshall Field's.
From the Chicago Tribune:
One year after Marshall Field's became Macy's, more than 200 "Field's Fans" stood under the store's clock on State Street for a moment of silence Sunday, hoping their passion might resurrect a name for the sake of Chicago pride and childhood memories.Macy's former Marshall Field's stores (particularly in Chicago) continue to languish under the new Macy's brand. The costs involved in converting Marshall Field's and other local department stores are often cited as the reason Macy's continues to under-perform. From Bloomberg:The change in corporate ownership aside, these people missed their Marshall Field's Frango mints, their Walnut Room lunches, the charm of following a Christmas story from one decorated window to another. All of those things remain, in some version, but the people who gathered said it is simply not the same.
"You don't give up on something that you like," said Rosario Probo of Pilsen. "Just the [name] itself -- you say Marshall Field's, people know where you're at. Everybody knows Marshall Field's is Chicago."
The company is paying a price for alienating Chicago customers, even though second-quarter profit exceeded analyst estimates. Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet acknowledged May 18 that sales at the State Street store were ``doing badly, but we feel we can turn around the performance.''Despite the protest and the lagging stock, Macy's says it will not consider reviving Marshall Field's:Shares of Cincinnati-based Macy's have fallen 26 percent since it dropped the Marshall Field's name, from $40.41 last Sept. 11 to $29.76 at the close of New York Stock Exchange composite trading on Sept. 9.
"It's a very unorthodox and major mistake to give the Marshall Field's name the death penalty in Chicago,'' said Burt Flickinger, managing director of New York-based consulting firm Strategic Resource Group.
"The decision is 100 percent decided,'' said McNamara, whose chain is second only to Sears Holdings Corp. in the U.S. based on annual sales. ``It was made well over a year ago and we believe it was the right decision to make for our company.''
...
"We researched 40,000 of our customers.'' McNamara said. ``They don't want to be stuck in the past.''
Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune reports that protesters were happy about Macy's poor sales and were hoping someone would buy them out and bring Field's back.
Though many said they had never participated in a protest, they thought they might actually have an impact because Macy's sales have been down, especially in Chicago.Ahh, Chicago. We love you."We have more hope now than we did a year ago," said Marianne Nathan as she pulled a green-clad mannequin on a rolling cart. Nathan, 58, of Oak Park reasoned that Macy's won't likely change the name but perhaps the company would be bought out and the Marshall Field's name restored.
Darrid Morris of Columbus, Ohio, said he's shopped from coast to coast but has never found a store with the level of service and quality of Marshall Field's. He's dedicated a Web site, Darrid.com, to his love for the store.
"It's standing up for what you believe in," said Morris. "I believe a Chicago icon should remain a Chicago icon."
A year later, Field's enthusiasts still fighting for name [Chicago Tribune]
Macy's Finds Chicago Indignant on Marshall Field's (Update1) [Bloomberg]
(Photo:Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune)
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Comments:
Macy's researched 40,000 of its customers? Creepy.
I'm a proud Chicagoan and I appreciate the history of Marshall Field and Field's and what the store meant to Chicago, but still... some people have too much time on their hands.
It doesn't matter what the store says on it, they can still call it Marshall Fields if they want to.
I could see a protest if Marshall Fields was truly a local business, but it's been bought and sold. It's just a name now.
As a Chicago transplant, I feel no real ties to Marshall Fields. However, I love watching Macys fail due to good ol' "vote with the dollar" actions. Macys can be as stubborn as they want, but the bottom line will reflect that.
note to self: avoid chicago. seems to be inhabited by a strange breed of humans.
Now these people care about history, but when they took over the Hudson's brand in Detroit, a part of Detroit history, it was a different story. Can anyone say karma?
Hate to tell these people this but they don't give a fuck about you. Their "focus groups", which were probably held in other cities that have nothing to do with this, naturally don't give a shit about Chicagoans, so of course they've got this skewed perception of reality. And as long as their "marketing data" tells them that you don't matter to them, they won't do a damn thing to make you happy.
Apparently, not even taking your business elsewhere until changes are made makes a whit of difference to businesses that get too big for their britches.
@Buran: "Apparently, not even taking your business elsewhere until changes are made makes a whit of difference to businesses that get too big for their britches."
Actually they're suffering bad from the property taxes on that big beautiful building in its prime real estate location with historic protection so they can only do so much renovation and can't rent parts out as office space. If THAT PARTICULAR STORE doesn't start doing some major business (like it used to do when it was Field's and part of the Chicago psyche), they'll have to drop THAT STORE. They might be able to limp alone with Field's-turned-Macy's in suburban malls, but that flagship on State Street is very expensive to run.
@forever_knight: "seems to be inhabited by a strange breed of humans."
Why do you think the Superfans were Chicagoans? ;)
Before Macy's took over the Flagship store in Chicago, the stores in Columbus were taken over by Kauffman's. They canceled all the Columbus cardholders' accounts and mailed them Kauffman's credit cards, without any consultation. My mother had a MF charge plate from when she was first married - it was a matter of pride for her - the first time she and my dad had truly gained "credit" and could have a credit account at any store. And it was -poof- gone.
Chicago native and not rich enough to shop at any downtown establishment or care about whose logo is on the building but can we remember that Macy's is the source of some of the most ridiculous 'screw you customer' coupons? There's really nothing to like about the company.
@rbb: Uh, dude, MF was making Frangos in the basement of their Chicago store before Donald Frederick was selling second-hand furniture in downtown Seattle. F&N licensed the recipe from MF for some years before the takeover.
Don't get jiggy on my Frangos, man.
Please, anyone from outside Chicago, understand that this reflects the people of Chicago and its suburbs about as much as the nazi party represents German people everywhere.
you get your teeth stomped in for putting ketchup on hotdogs in Jersey. Ketchup on a hotdog is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard.
@quagmire0: Thanks for speaking for all of us in Chicago and the Burbs (Note Sarcasm).
@Falconfire: Ketchup doesn't belong on a hotdog. In Chicagoland the bun better be poppy and steamed too!
@Meg: Sox Fan? :-P
@Falconfire: I completely agree with you, but this has not been my experience anywhere on the East Coast.
@AngrySicilian: I'm one of those hated people who likes both teams and therefore has no friends and is picked on.
@falconfire: Ketchup on a hot dog might be the most disgusting thing ever heard, but from what I hear about how they make hot dogs, that would be a close second! :)
@humphrmi: Sorry dude. Marshalls got the recipe from Frederick and Nelsons
[en.wikipedia.org] "Historically associated with the Midwestern and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States, the candy is sold in outlets throughout the country. Created originally by Seattle, Washington department store company Frederick & Nelson in 1918, the company and Frango trademarks were both acquired by Chicago, Illinois company Marshall Field's which introduced its own recipe in 1929."
You mid-Westerners do not know what a real Frango tastes like ;)
weirdos. they should just support EXISTING local stores.
I forgot to add, it was the candy makers from Frederick and Nelson who went to Chicago in 1929 to create the lesser version of the Frango. Bottom line - F&N had it first ;)
Nothing at all to do with the post but there is nothing like ketchup, mustard and relish on a hotdog. Unless of course it is a Detroit coney with chili and mustard. No ketchup in that case.
Then again no one outside of Detroit knows what a Detroit coney is anyways. Oh well...
You know what? To hell with Marshall Field's, THEY took Hudson's away from ME!
You go get 'em, Macy's...with your gutted sales coupons, lack of decent brands, and piss poor customer service. You go get 'em!
I had to buy a fancy-schmancy wedding present the other day and was extremely sad I had no Marshall Field's to buy it from.
Yes, I am a nutty Chicagoan.
As a Chicago resident (born and raised) I am mystified by the morons who stand around the Macy's and claim regret. Sales at Marshall Fields stores slowly declined and they sold to Macy's. Macy's changed the name.
Um, idiot. WHO THE HELL CARES about Marshall Fields? They sold crap. It was expensive. It went out of business.
Macy's was well within their rights to do what they should have done, which was kill the brand and sell the property. Instead, they chose to change the marshall fields over to a macy's.
So how do customers repay Macy's with their massive investment into Chicago? By NOT shopping there and NOT supporting them. Macy's brought back Frango mints, and customers don't care.
I am amazed that 200 people managed to show up. That sounds like the exact number of people who are 'upset' that Macy's bought Fields. Get a clue, losers. Most of us have better things to do than complain about something as meaningless as the Marshall Fields brand. It was purchased in 1990 by the same company that owned Target. Then things got really funny.
Oh boo hoo! Marshall Fields is gone. Oh waaaah! Oh lord, how will life go on with the same products being sold at the same mark-ups but WITHOUT A NAME THAT MEANS NOTHING??!?!?!?!?
Boo-freakin'-hoo.
I've lived in Chicago for all 32 years of my life and simply don't give a crap.
This waste of emotional connection to a retailer is amazing, but incredibly stupid and shallow.
Boo-hoo.
Wow. I actually feel a little better now.
Thanks for the quick smack on the Cubs. I was a fan until years of bartending made me watch most of the games. How many years of heartbreak can you stick with a team if you aren't only interested in going to the games to get drunk and flirt with other, like-minded fans?
I can't wait for the Cubs to bought. Maybe people will cry and moan and protest when they change Wrigley Field to Motorola Park?
Ugh. Branding.
ketchup on a hot dog seemed so natural to me just 5 minutes ago. now I'm questioning EVERYTHING!
Considering that Macy's profits are down 77%--yes you read that right--I'd guess maybe there are just a few more than 200 protesters who hate Macy's and refuse to shop there.
@AngrySicilian:
I'm sure that means something....
Please share.
Did you want me to throw in my opinion on hotdogs?
Sure. Happy to!
A Chicago hot dog (the best in the world) has Mustard, Relish, Onions, Tomato, Pickle, Hot Peppers and Celery salt. It must be on a steamed, poppy seed bun.
The only people who should be eating Ketchup on a dog are under the age of 14.
I also tend to go for steamed dogs over grilled, but have been known to have a char dog with mustard and grilled onions (which is all you should ever have on a Polish!).
@dazette:
Yeah. But the question is: why?
Does it have anything to do with old people who remember the 'old days' when Marshall Fields was actually Marshall Fields or is it due to another, totally unrelated reason?
I'm going to guess that Macy's has more stores than the State street store....
And more customers than downtown Chicago.
It's the shallow, materialistic mindset like this that is making me leave Chicago within the next year or two, after living her my entire life. As more suburbanites and out-of-staters come to live in Chicago, the city is becoming a mess of cookie-cutter condos/bars/"boutiques"/restaurants. They care more about stores and shopping than real issues.
The CTA is facing a huge budget crisis (partly of their own making) and is making service cuts and fare increases for the 3rd time in as many years. Are people demanding change? Are they protesting? Nope. But, heaven forbid, one faceless corporation take over another "historic", yet now faceless corporation....
@killavanilla: Settle down there, chief. The hatred of Macy's has more to do with the stripping of local history by giant corporations rather than the name printed on the shopping bag.
Killavanilla , I'd just like to say that is is annoying for when serveral blank returns are added at end of a post.
Thank you.
@Landru:
I agree.
For some reason, when I post, they add themselves.
I do not hit return a whole bunch of times and I can't figure out why it does it to me....
I SWEAR I am not hitting return a whole bunch of times. I type and then click submit....
Not sure why that keeps happening! Sorry.
@schwnj:
WHAT history?
I mean, obviously there is history there but what is their connection?
The thing that baffles my brain is that Marshall Fields was a store, where people bought goods. End of history. I shopped there. I bought stuff there. I even enjoyed the Frango mints! But when Marshall Fields became Macy's, I didn't care and still don't.
And Marshall Fields WAS a giant corporation. When they were bought out, they were valued at over $3 billion dollars.
Did people cry a river when HP bought Compaq?
Maybe I'm not getting something here, but it appears to me that one giant mega-corp simply bought out another giant mega-corp.
You don't see people weeping over Chryslers sale to Mercedes-Benz (and then Cerebus)....
Sorry, the history argument is weak. the mega-corp buyout thing is even flimsier.
Before Marshall Fields became Macy's, it was owned by the folks that became Target. before that, another group. I fail to see the point of protesting something as empty and vapid as the name of a store changing.
@killavanilla: Don't forget Vienna Beef!! If it's not Vienna, it's NOT Chicago. I went somewhere in Denver that claimed they served Chicago Style on Nathan's hotdogs, NO!!! I handed them the hotdog back and asked for a refund after 1 bite.
@killavanilla asks "Did people cry a river when HP bought Compaq?": Well, not so much then as when Compaq bought DEC, though since HP was the owner when they finally stopped selling Alpha systems...yes.
@DjDynasty:
Almost forgot.
Altough, Best Kosher makes a crazy good Chicago style dog....
Nathans just doesn't compare.
Can someone please enlighten me as to what the hell a "frango" is?
I'm from Detroit and we made occasional jaunts to Chicago (not TOO often - it's a healthy drive!), but never went to Marshall Field's.
However, as a shipping clerk for a men's clothing chain, I remember when Marshall Field's became Macy's, because all the rules changed for handling their freight on our end. Changed, as in, "got a lot more complicated."
@ChristopherDavis: Dang it, you stole my witty retort about Digital.
And you Hudson's/Dayton's folks, Hudson/Dayton (Target) BOUGHT Fields, and used their newly owned name to convert their old stores. Don't blame us.
Ummm...Please get over Marshall Fields like yesterday! Marshall Fields hasn't been itself in years! Have we forgot about the Target relationship, and how badly it became a discount shopping plaza! All 13 floors! Before Target came into play, it still sucked! Greedy commissioned sales people who didnt care about how you looked in the garments they were selling you infested the place! Get serious, move on! I'm not a Macy's fan either, but Marshall Fields died long time ago. I hope they demolish the building or it catches fire one day! It's an ugly eye sore in the middle of some pretty new and beutiful buildings that surround it.
@killavanilla: Hey there, if you care so little about anything and anyone in your community, other than your 32-year-old self apparently, why don't you just take another bong hit, call up Remax and move the f--k to Cincinatti. Macy's evil empire lives there and you'll be so happy being nearby. They may even give you some Alfani chinos to welcome you to town. I'm sure your Chicago neighbors will be happy to help you pack up and move the hell away.
Hee... I know some (maybe even most) think these people should just get over it but it makes me laugh everytime there's a Field's article in the Tribune and people start commenting in the online edition. You can say a lot about them, but Chicagoans aren't quitters (except for Grossman and he's a transplant).
@humphrmi:
Actually Field's made the Frango's on the 10th floor of the State Street store, not the basement.
@hyperlexis:
Wow.
Let me get this straight - because I don't give a crap what they call a company that was sold years ago for billions of dollars, I don't care about anything?
Or anyone?
I should take a 'bong hit', then move? You think my neighbors don't want me here? All because I don't give two shits about Macy's or Marshall Fields?
You've got some nerve, jackass.
Here the deal, hyperlexis, you don't know squat about me save for the very reasonable fact that I could give a crap about what they call the Macy's on State street.
I am a great neighbor. I DO care about other things.
Allow me to retort to your empty, stupid comment that displays to the world the fact that you are clearly an idiot who cares TOO much about the name of a f*cking store!
Blow me.
I LIVE in Chicago. I have for my entire life.
I don't smoke a 'bong' and I do care about other people and other things.
Go fug yourself. Maybe if you weren't such a reactionary freak, you'd realize that kicking someone out of town over Marshall Gul-durn Fields being bought, bastardized, bought again, then turned into a Macy's isn't a bid deal, unless of course your IQ is smaller than your average puppy.
I'm so sorry that you place such great importance on the names of your retail stores.
Clearly, you belong to a small group of morons who think the same as you.
Honestly, I have been insulted by morons like you in the past, but never told to move out of the City I have lived in my whole life over what amounts to a name change disagreement.
Tell you what! I've changed my mind. Everything would be so much better in this world if only the greedy bastards who own Macy's made an incredibly stupid decision and changed the name of the store they bought back to Marshall Fields. That way, knuckledraggers like you could be fooled into thinking all is right with the world again.
Putz.
I'm staying in Chicago.
Forever.
And you've just inspired me: the next time these idiots with too much time on their hands decide to waste their day protesting Macy's over A NAME, I'll head on over and hold up a sign that says:
"The people around me are stupid. They think the name of this store matters."
Fair enough?
@SybilDisobedience:
A frango is a chocolate candy.
the most popular seller was the frango mint, which had a layer of chocolate, a layer of mint chocolate, and another layer of chocolate.
They are pretty durn tasty.
I live in Chicago and one of my friends was among the protestors outside the State Street Macy's. When he told me ha was planning on being part of the protest, I kind of internally rolled my eyes. I never really shopped at Marshall Field's. I actually miss the State Street Carson Pirie Scott store more.
On a related note, I read in today's Tribune that one of the protestors had a sign that read:
"Macy's. Oprah dosen't shop here anymore."
Now that's just funny.
@hyperlexis:
One more thing -
I know this never occured to you, but the truth is I spent most of Sunday volunteering at my local homeless shelter. Apparently, I should have been protesting a name change for a company that not only changed it's name months ago, but was bought and sold twice since the 'old days'....
My bad.
I'll stop showing up and volunteering so I can devote more of my time protesting Macy's decision to turn their billions of dollars of investment capital into a full fledged Macy's store.
Yes, thats right Killa. Everyone in the world is wrong, but you. It's all a big conspiracy. That's right. And Arabs didn't cause 9-11 either.... Maybe you care about, oh I dunno, your dinner? Or maybe the weather. Certainly not your community. (Anyone who says that crap about the Cubs/Sox here in the city is either from the burbs or somewhere else, mentally or physically, or feels ok taking his life into his own hands....) But for people who can actually make an intelligent comment about something rather than ranting and swearing and carrying on like a 12-year-old, here is an interesting article about how Macy's stock is tanking.
@killavanilla: Killa, I hope you appreciate the irony that you seem to be more worked up over this than anyone else.
Marshall Fields did the same thing to the Frederick and Nelson chain in the Pacific Northwest many years ago. Where do you think they stole the Frango recipe from?