Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Macy’s confirmed closures at Livingston Mall, Ramsey
- Shutdowns part of retailer’s ‘Bold New Chapter’ turnaround
- Clearance sales expected to begin by mid-January
- After closures, Macy’s will operate 26 stores in New Jersey
Two Macy’s stores in New Jersey will close as part of an ongoing turnaround effort by the retailer.
After winding down dozens of underperforming locations over the past two years, the New York City-headquartered department store chain expects to shutter 14 more outposts in 2026.
A spokesperson for Macy’s confirmed that an anchor store at Livingston Mall in Livingston as well as a recently opened small-format store in Ramsey will go dark.
“The decision allows us to focus on improving nearby Macy’s locations and invest in the stores and digital experiences where customers are choosing to shop today,” the media representative told NJBIZ.
“We first communicated directly with our Macy’s colleagues at Livingston Mall and Interstate Shopping Center and are supporting them through the transition, including transfer opportunities where available and severance and support where applicable,” they said.
The spokesperson said they expect clearance sales to begin by mid-January, which will likely run for 10 weeks.
Also leaving Livingston Mall
In Livingston, Macy’s was one of the remaining stores open at the enclosed shopping mall. Fellow anchor Barnes & Noble just announced plans to relocate from Livingston Mall to nearby Livingston Shopping Center.
Amid high vacancies and declining foot traffic, the township designated the 43-acre property as an area in need of redevelopment in 2024. Since then, the township has run a community-led planning process to build a vision for the site’s future.
The Ramsey store opened in 2024. The 25,000-square-foot space was left empty in the wake of Bed Bath & Beyond’s bankruptcy. A similar small-format Macy’s store launched in Mount Laurel remains open.
After debuting the concept in Texas as a pilot five years ago, Macy’s has added 21 locations at high-traffic shopping centers across the U.S.
The footprint occupies about one-fifth the size of a traditional Macy’s department store. The format is designed to deliver a more immersive shopping experience, featuring a curated mix of private and national brands.
26 left in NJ
Following the closures in Livingston and Ramsey, Macy’s will have 26 stores in New Jersey.
The retailer also has closings planned in Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, Retail Dive reported.
In a bid to return to sustainable, profitable sales growth, Macy’s unveiled its “Bold New Chapter” restructuring strategy in 2024. At the time, the company anticipated shutting down 150 stores by the end of 2026 while reinvesting in remaining locations. Last year, Macy’s closed 66 sites.
Within New Jersey, the strategy is expected to impact Macy’s off-price brand, Backstage, at Essex Green Shopping Center in West Orange. According to the store’s website it will close soon, though a final date is not mentioned.
Moving forward
In a Jan. 8 memo to employees, Macy’s CEO Tony Spring said decisions to close stores “are not made lightly.” He also emphasized the “improved results” seen in the chain’s go-forward business.
In its third quarter results released Dec. 3, 2025, Macy’s reported its strongest Q3 comparable sales in three years. Stores slated to remain open and recently revamped locations drove the favorable performance, according to the company.
For the three-month period ending Nov. 1, 2025, comparable sales rose 2% overall, with gains of 2.3% at go-forward stores and 2.7% at remodeled stores, Macy’s said.
However, net sales declined 2.3% year over year to $4.7 billion, reflecting store closures, portfolio changes and ongoing traffic pressures, executives said.
‘Targeted changes’
More recent NJ store closures:
In his message last week, Spring noted, “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.”
“These targeted changes allow us to focus where it will have the greatest impact – reimagining our best stores, enhancing customer service, expanding our luxury business, and advancing our supply chain capabilities,” Spring added.
Employee impact
According to the company, impacted employees have been notified and receiving support. That includes transfer opportunities where available or severance and outplacement resources where applicable, Macy’s said.
Macy’s has not yet disclosed how many workers the closures will affect at the local or national level.
Macy’s turnaround plan originally called for the chain to ultimately maintain 350 stores in the U.S.. However, a spokesperson told NJBIZ, “While we’re pleased with the progress we’ve made on store closures, we haven’t provided an update on expectations. We’re constantly evaluating our entire fleet of stores to ensure we have the right strategy in place and the right balance of go-forward and non-go-forward stores.”
An update on store closures is expected during Macy’s fourth quarter earnings called scheduled for March 6, they said.
