[UPDATE] Macy's to Close 14 More Stores, One in Atlanta

Macy’s Inc., continuing to execute its three-year “Bold New Chapter” reinvigoration strategy, this week disclosed 14 Macy’s locations that will close this year, including one in metro Atlanta.  The company launched its "right sizing" plan in 2024 when it revealed it planned to close 150 stores in the ensuing three years.  

“In executing our strategy, we continue to review our portfolio and make careful decisions about where and how we invest, including closing underproductive stores and streamlining operations,” Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, wrote to employees in a memo, a copy of which was reviewed by ToNeTo Atlanta.  

The Atlanta area store that will be closing is the Macy's at Northlake Mall (4880 Briarcliff Road) in Tucker which had previously been slated for closure before getting an extended lease on life.  Despite its delayed demise, the Northlake store has been a shell of its former self for several years with depleted stock, limited staff, and an overall shabby appearance.  

The 191,000 three level store first opened in 1971 as Davison's before converting to the Macy's banner in 1985.  The third floor of the store has been closed to customers for several years with the company having converted it to offices and a rumored (employee only) museum of Davison's, Rich's, and Macy's artifacts and memorabilia. 

Macy's closure at Northlake marks the fourth anchor department store to shutter in the mall following the earlier closures of Sears, JCPenney and Kohl's.   

Related: A new Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q is slated to open in an outparcel of the mall in February.  

Kroger has previously expressed interest in the Macy's property which according to DeKalb property records, totals nearly eleven acres, but the retailer and the grocer were said to be "far apart" on price.  

Macy's closed 66 stores in 2025  including three in metro Atlanta: 3360 Ventura Parkway (Macy's Furniture Gallery) and 2100 Pleasant Hill Road in Gwinnett Place Mall, both in Duluth, and 3630 Peachtree Parkway in Johns Creek Town Center (Suwanee), a short-lived Market by Macy's store.

The retailer has, in prior years, closed several Atlanta area department stores, including those at North DeKalb Mall (2016), The Gallery at South DeKalb (2020), and Greenbriar Mall (2021).   

The retailer has indicated that despite the closures, it plans to reinvest in strengthening 125 “Reimagine” stores, which are reportedly receiving increased staffing in high-traffic areas such as women’s shoes and the fitting room areas, fresher products, and improved visuals.  The company has not identified these "special" stores, but one would think the Atlanta "flagship" store at Lenox Square in Buckhead would be one of them.  That said, our recent visits to the store have not reflected any increased staffing.  Cleanliness, merchandising and maintenance still seem to be areas of opportunity.  

“Nearly two years into our Bold New Chapter strategy, the focus of our work remains the same: strengthen our stores, simplify how we operate, and invest in the experiences that matter most to our customers. Today, that work is centered on disciplined execution and continuous improvement, with strategic investments that are guided by what customers value most,” Spring said.  

Macy’s Inc. has said it will also open 15 Bloomingdale’s stores, at least 30 Bluemercury stores, and 30 small-format, off-mall stores in the years to come.  

The 14 stores being closed are:  

Northlake Mall – Tucker, GA  

Mall at Fox Run – Newington, NH

Livingston Mall – Livingston, NJ

Marley Station – Glen Burnie, MD 

Boulevard Mall – Amherst, NY 

Crossroads Center – St. Cloud, MN 

Rivertown Crossings – Grandville, MI 

West Valley Mall – Tracy, CA

Pittsburgh Mills – Tarentum, PA 

La Palmera – Corpus Christi, TX

Triangle Town Center – Raleigh, NC 

Grossmont Center – La Mesa, CA

Interstate – Ramsey, NJ (a small format store that opened May 2024 in an old Bed Bath & Beyond)

Budget House – Tukwila, WA

Liquidation sales are expected to begin in mid-January and will run for approximately 10 weeks.  The latest round of closures will leave the company with a fleet of 350 stores.  

What would you like most to see open in place of Macy's at Northlake Mall?  What is your fondest memory of Northlake Mall?  What metro Atlanta mall do you visit most often?

Please share your thoughts below.