ST. LOUIS COUNTY – Macy's has announced it will close five stores, including the Jamestown Mall location in north St. Louis County.
Andrea Schwartz, a spokesperson for the company, says 88 associated will be affected. They will be offered other positions within St. Louis, but she is uncertain how many of those employees can be absorbed. A severance package will be offered to all eligible part and full-time employees.
The announcement came Wednesday as Macy's Inc. announced it will cut 2,500 jobs as part of a reorganization. This will leave Macy's with around 175,000 employees nationwide.
Despite closing five store, it will also open eight others throughout the country, bringing the total number of Macy's stores to 844 in the United States.
A spokesperson for Macy's says the reorganization will save the company $100 million per year.
On a weekday night there's only about 20 cars in the Jamestown Mall parking lot. That's because Macy's is the only store open and now it has an expiration date.
"This is right around the corner for me, I'm kind of mad about that," said Lisa Carter.
Shoppers who grew up with the mall in all its glory are sad to see the last remaining anchor store announce they are closing this March.
"This used to be a hangout spot for everyone and now all the youth have to go out somewhere else," said Porcelyn Moore.
Less than three years ago there seemed to be hope for the Jamestown Mall. A consultant group was brought in, the community's voice was heard and plans were drawn up.
"The new focus in this place will have to be on a beautiful sidewalk café which might be next to a store that you will take a look in that window but you went there for the coffee," urban planner Victor Dover told NewsChannel 5 in 2011.
Those ideas never took off and they were not set in stone. Shoppers say employees are talking about it inside the store, letting their clients know the news.
"They are upset, but I guess they are just going to deal with it," said Carter.
Some regulars say the scene around the mall is already depressing not to mention what this will mean to the community and the 88 people employed.
"Everybody has their families and you begin to rely on the employment," said resident Marie Martir.
NewsChannel 5 contacted county officials about the future of Jamestown and they tell us it's up to owners of the mall what to do with it.
A final clearance sale will begin at the Jamestown Mall Macy's beginning Jan. 13. It is expected to last 10 or 11 weeks.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
