Dodged the Ax: Pasadena Macy’s is Spared as Chain Closes 68 Stores, Lays Off 10,000

The iconic Macy’s department store on South Lake Avenue won’t be closing in the wave of Macy’s closures announced today that will shutter 68 locations — including a store in Pasadena, Texas.

In August, Macy’s had said that up to 100 stores might be closed in early 2017, but refused to say if the South Lake Avenue store was on the list for closure.

Today, after a “disappointing” holiday shopping season, the ax fell but the Pasadena, California store was spared.

Only two California Macy’s are scheduled to close: one in Mission Valley Apparel, San Diego, CA (385,000 square feet; opened in 1961; 140 associates), and the other in Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA (141,000 square feet; opened in 1990; 77 associates).

The retailer said Wednesday that sales at its established stores fell 2.1 percent in November and December compared to the same period last year.   Macy’s said, the job reductions represent about 7 percent of its workforce.

Macy’s said in a statement that it plans to invest some of its savings in growing its digital business.

In Pasadena, Macy’s closed its Colorado Boulevard store in 2013 saying it was too close to the Lake Avenue location.

In August last year, owners of Paseo Colorado, where the closed Macy’s was located, broke ground on what was to be the beginning of a new $70 million redevelopment plan that included demolition of the former Macy’s building.