New Haven Independent

Posted by: Ben Berkowitz | September 18, 2007 12:23 PM

Hanging out with my Aunt in the women's department where she worked at the time.
I felt like V.I.P.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | September 18, 2007 1:46 PM

The lose of Macy's was when downtown started to get bad! Such a shame! Another building lost to the monster of development!
I remember Santa with my mom and dad.
And a really fond memory of my grandma buying me this handkerchief and then showing me how a lady uses a handkerchief.
I remember getting the free perfume samples after school with my friends. We felt like princess in there. It was the glamor that we wanted to become at that age! I can also say I remember the one time I played hookie and we hung out at Macy's and on the top of the garage....we got caught by the nun from heck!!! And when I got home I was in major trouble!
But all good memory

Posted by: Frank Iezzi | September 18, 2007 2:31 PM

Peering into that carcass brings me to another world in a different time. Almost hypnotic. My mom spent the happiest days of her working life at Macy's as Manager of Housewares. As kids, when visiting her on Saturdays, we spent a lot of time in the electronics dept. marveling at the new Color TVs! During weeknights, Dad would bring us with him to pick her up after work on the Church Street exit where all the cars would line up and wait to do the same.

Sad to see it happen. Damn shame downtown had to come to this.

Posted by: JSJ | September 18, 2007 3:10 PM

...lunch at the restaurant when I was a kid. Always cream cheese on date nut bread.

Posted by: Bruce | September 18, 2007 4:25 PM

I think my favorite memory is actually in Malley's. My mom used to drop me off in the little movie theater (unsupervised!) while she went shopping. I saw that Simon guy who liked to draw things with his magic pen. Also, I think there were birds in a cage somewhere. I must have been 4 years old.

Posted by: In the Hood | September 18, 2007 4:55 PM

As a teenager, I worked part-time one Christmas. Working at Macy's back then was considered a prominent part time job -- at least among young people.

The company made us take a psychological exam plus we had to pass an aptitude test to get the job. But it still paid minimum wage, which I think was around $2.50.

The store was constantly busy with shoppers from all over Connecticut. The company discounts were wonderful..But dealing with what seemed to be extremely demanding Macy's customers cured me of ever wanting to work in retail again.

Posted by: robn | September 18, 2007 7:48 PM

My favorite memory was just being there. At the time, the suburban white flight myth was that one would get shot promptly upon crossing the border into New Haven from the burbs. I always had a good time at Macy's because it was a glamorous way to shop. Visiting Macy's also gave me a reason to wander out into the city and explore. Thus I was charmed by the city; I reversed course and settled back in the city.

Posted by: nfjanette | September 18, 2007 9:45 PM

Visiting Malley's and Macy's in their prime was an elegant shopping experience - more like being in New York City than Target. Watching the birds in the giant cage was an experience of endless fascination as a child, and the toy section of Malleys was wonderful.

Posted by: fairhavener | September 18, 2007 11:24 PM

So, maybe I missed an article, but where did the $5 million dollars come from?

Posted by: cedarhillresident | September 19, 2007 8:53 AM

Bruce
I remember that bird cage too!!!

Posted by: NewHavenKid | September 19, 2007 11:26 AM

Great pictures of the men's dept. Paul!

Earliest toddler memory is parking in a lot where the KOC/Veteran's Memorial Coliseum is/was and walking over to shop with mom. Still have the faded pictures of all five of us excited kids and The Christmas Storyish Santa scene. I remember the excitement of crossing over the street in the glass bridge and oogling at the bird cage. Ate at the in-store restaurant once... don't remember the food - only that it felt too dark - probably the contrast of browns and beiges with no windows vs. the 60's Peter Max colors of our house interior...

Early adolescence had me regularly walking downtown and riding the escalator to heaven AKA the Macy's music dept. where much of my well worn vinyl was ER...obtained...

During mid adolescence these stores were a convenient place to walk to for gift shopping...

Even with a car and renting near my suburban job, young adulthood brought me to the familiar Macy's electronics dept. -- great deal, Sansui stereo and Yamaha tower speakers still sound great...

My wife getting hit on at Macy's - young married life and we're shopping the good deals at Macy's bargain basement when a wide eyed 6-7 year old boy became smitten at the sight of my wife and her cool candy apple red MC helmet..."HEL-LO MO-TOR-CY-CLE GIRL!!! - can I get a ride with you Motorcycle Girl?" He was VERY smooth and suave and though his embarrassed mother tried to tug him towards last years batman pj's he knew what he really wanted - "let me ride with the Motorcycle Girl - Momma, LOOK at that Motorcycle Girl - ohhh nice helmet - let me go momma..."

Along with the bird cage and santa, that little player probably has a warm memory of the time he saw the MC girl at Macy's -- come to think of it lets retire santa and replace him with his daughter who spreads yuletide cheer on her MC while promoting safety with her helmet and red leathers. Seems more acceptable to have our sons and daughters sit on HER lap than her old red faced father - hope to see ST. CHICK at the Yale Co-Op children's bookstore this year...

Posted by: Goatville | September 19, 2007 5:55 PM

I remember growing up downtown, my father always said that they got my brother at Macy's and they got me at Malley's. When Malley's closed, he said, "S**t! Now we can't return her!"
Both stores are sorely missed.