By Marla Matzer Rose, The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS – Two Macy’s stores in the Columbus area will be closing as part of the chain’s plan to shutter 68 underperforming stores, Macy’s announced this afternoon. Its store at Eastland Mall and one of its two stores at the Mall at Tuttle Crossing will be closing by spring.
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The Eastland store opened in 2006 and has 73 employees, the company said.
Macy’s took over a second anchor store at Tuttle in 2006 after doing away with the Kaufmann’s brand. A Kaufmann’s previously occupied the space that now houses the furniture, home, men’s and kid’s departments at Tuttle, where 52 people are employed.
Macy’s at Eastland will be one of dozens of stores that will begin final clearance sales on Monday; no further information was given on the Tuttle store.
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The company said in September that it planned to reduce its store count by about 100, but did not give details.
Macy’s says it is eliminating more than 10,000 jobs and plans to move forward with 68 store closures after a disappointing holiday shopping season. The department store chain also lowered its full-year earnings forecast.
The retailer said Wednesday that sales at established stores fell 2.1 percent in November and December compared to the same period last year. Macy’s Inc. pointed to changing consumer behavior and said it reflects challenges facing much of the retail industry.
The company said it plans to close by midyear the 68 stores that are part of 100 closings announced in August. It also plans to restructure parts of its business and sell some properties. The moves are estimated to save $550 million annually.
Shares in Macy’s fell more than 8 percent in after-hours trading.