Chicago, day 4, Macy's
Our next stop in our downtown experience was Macy's on State Street, the second largest department store in the world. The shop originated from a dry goods store created by Potter Palmer in 1852, which was burnt down in the Great Chicago Fire. Palmer, his health failing, had sold the company on to Levi Leiter and Marshall Field, the entrepreneur who dominated Chicago commerce around the turn of the 19th century. Field bought out Leiter and went on to develop the site.
After building a couple of smaller stores, which soon proved insufficient, Marshall Field, encouraged by his store manager Harry Selfridge, employed the architect Daniel Burnham to build a larger one to accommodate visitors coming for the 1894 Chicago Exposition. Over a period of time the enterprise grew as Field took over other buildings on the block, until the store occupied the whole area. In 1907 the original 1894 building was pulled down and a new one erected, rising up to a Tiffany glass roof.
In 1982 Marshall Field was sold to British American Tobacco. It was then acquired by Target and then finally by Macy's. Major renovations took place in 1987 and 2004, which included the creation of an 11 storey atrium created out of what had been an alley and a mid-store light shaft.
The Walnut Room, Marshall Field's restaurant and tea room was the first restaurant to be incorporated into a department store. Opening in 1907 it was a place for the lady who lunched, or took tea.
The quotes 'Give the customer what she wants' and the lady is always right' are attributed to Field, and he employed a large number of female shop assistants, very well trained in their wares, to sell to the largely female customer base. However a state enquiry showed that the level of wages he paid to these employees was woefully low, often not even representing a living wage. During the enquiry it was found that Field could well afford to pay them double that which they were receiving, but he refused to do so.
In 1982 Marshall Field was sold to British American Tobacco. It was then acquired by Target and then finally by Macy's. Major renovations took place in 1987 and 2004, which included the creation of an 11 storey atrium created out of what had been an alley and a mid-store light shaft.
The Walnut Room, Marshall Field's restaurant and tea room was the first restaurant to be incorporated into a department store. Opening in 1907 it was a place for the lady who lunched, or took tea.
The quotes 'Give the customer what she wants' and the lady is always right' are attributed to Field, and he employed a large number of female shop assistants, very well trained in their wares, to sell to the largely female customer base. However a state enquiry showed that the level of wages he paid to these employees was woefully low, often not even representing a living wage. During the enquiry it was found that Field could well afford to pay them double that which they were receiving, but he refused to do so.
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