Macy's
Department store · Midtown West ·
Iconic department store with historic wooden escalators
Iconic department store with historic wooden escalators
"Located at 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenues, Macy's one-million-square-foot flagship store opened in 1924 when the retailer debuted its New York City flagship and launched a Thanksgiving-morning Christmas parade to boost holiday sales. I note that the 2.5-mile Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade now concludes in front of this Herald Square store—often called the World’s Largest Macy’s—which is routinely transformed into a makeshift stage for performances during the procession." - Rachel Chang
"Located on the lower level at Macy’s Herald Square, Macy’s Holiday Square runs November 1 through January 4, 2026 and serves as a holiday shopping and events hub where Macy’s teamed up with editors from Vox Media brands including Eater, The Cut, and PS to assemble an expertly curated selection of gifts; it will host complimentary events and activations throughout the season and feature a slew of food vendors, and visitors are encouraged to stop by during regular store hours (with visits suggested through the end of December) to enjoy bites, shop collections, and embrace the holiday season." - Patty Diez
"Two seasonal shopping pop-ups at Macy’s Herald Square offering seasonal decor and gifts indoors, and food treats and artisanal products outdoors."
"A flagship department store famous for animated holiday window displays that draw crowds and add to the city’s iconic seasonal shopping experience." - Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes is a senior editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Macy’s Herald Square is famous for a lot of things, most of them holiday-related: Its animatronic window displays during the Christmas season, its starring role in the holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street, and its namesake Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Macy’s, of course, also helped popularize the department store concept, but perhaps the best-preserved piece of its history lies right underneath shoppers’ feet. When the flagship store underwent massive renovations in 2015, it swapped out many of its old-school features for more modern accouterments. But 20 of its much-loved wooden escalators stayed put. The escalators were built between 1920 and 1930 by the Otis Elevator Company, which pioneered the machinery. They’re made of sturdy oak and ash, wood that’s traditionally used in hardwood flooring. The mechanical parts have, for the most part, been updated, and modern safety measures have been put in place. They might be updated and maintained regularly as per modern standards, but the nearly century-old escalators aren’t going anywhere, despite how much they might creak.] Update as of October 2016: Only the escalator treads on the top two floors remain wooden. Update as of January 2020: The escalator treads from the fifth through ninth floors remain wooden. Update as of July 2021: The escalator treads in the escalators near the elevators and women’s restroom are wooden from the second through ninth floors. The other escalator is modern at least on the lower floors." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
