By Dara Blanchette
Orem''s newest retailer attracted more than a thousand shoppers to its grand opening Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, at University Mall.
University Mall and Macy''s officials watched while Mayor Jerry Washburn of Orem presided over a 9:15 am ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first 1,000 shoppers to the store that day received $10 Gift Certificates, while all shoppers enjoyed Macy''s cake, cider, chocolate stars and live music, according to Wendy Holne, the store manager of the new Macy''s.
The Macy''s store inherited its space in the mall from retailer Meier and Frank. Meier and Frank stores throughout Oregon, Washington and Utah will convert to Macy''s stores this month, according to a news release from Federated Department Stores, Inc., which owns Macy''s. The shift is the result of a 2005 buyout by Federated of May Department Stores, which owns Meier and Frank. It is the store''s second name change in recent years; Meier and Frank replaced ZCMI ? which was owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ? in 1999.
University Mall officials were enthusiastic about the new store. Mall marketing director Mindy Nordsef said, 'Macy''s is a great department store to have,' adding that Macy''s has committed to carrying more modest clothing to serve the needs of the community. She said Macy''s would have a 'cleaned up, more organized look' and would feature a chocolate bar in the center of the stores.
Macy''s Northwest Division did its homework before entering the Utah market, according to Rob Campbell, the Northwest Division''s manager of communications and media relations. He said focus groups of Utah residents in Salt Lake City were enthusiastic about the new retailer.
Campbell said Macy''s is committed to giving back to the community, citing as examples an employee volunteer program and a Corporate Giving Program that donates money to local causes.