Macy’s to close Crown Center store
The Washington Crown Center Macy’s will be one of six of the department store’s locations to close in Pennsylvania this spring.
View of the Washington Crown Center in North Franklin Township.
Macy’s Inc. said Wednesday it will close its store at Washington Crown Center in early spring, one of 68 units the Cincinnati-based retailer is shuttering nationally as it struggles with declining store traffic.
In a news release, the company listed the 148,000 square-foot store in North Franklin Township as one of six that will close in Pennsylvania.
It also is closing its stores at Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca and four others in Hermitage, Muncy, Plymouth Meeting and Bensalem.
The Washington Crown Center store opened in 1999 and currently has 67 employees.
At Washington Crown Center, Macy’s was an anchor in a space that previously was built for Kaufmann’s, which was purchased by the Macy’s chain.
The company, which currently operates 730 stores, said the closures are part of an effort for the chain to streamline its store portfolio and intensify cost efficiency efforts.
“Over the past year, we have been focused and disciplined about making strategic decisions to position us to gain market share and return to growth over time,” said Macy’s Chief Executive Officer Terry Lundgren in a statement.
Lundgren also stated the chain “was pleased with the strong performance of our highly developed online business, as well as the progress we have made on selling and visual presentation programs and expense reduction initiatives in 2016, we continue to experience declining traffic in our stores where the majority of our business is still transacted.”
Lundgren, who said the chain expects to close a total of 100 stores over the next few years, said Macy’s was closing locations “that are unproductive or are no longer robust shopping destinations due to changes in the local retail shopping landscape, as well as monetizing locations with highly valued real estate.
“These are never easy decisions, and we are committed to treating associates affected by these closings with respect and transparency.”
As a result of closing 63 stores in the spring, along with three stores closed in mid-year 2016, the company’s 2017 sales are expected to be negatively impacted by about $575 million.
Macy’s said employees displaced by store closings may be offered positions in nearby stores where possible. It said eligible full-time and part-time employees affected by the store closings will be offered severance benefits.
The company estimated 3,900 employees will be displaced as a result of the closures.