News

Macy's shoppers line up for sale as Meier & Frank name ends

JUSTIN MUCH
Statesman Journal

September 10, 2006

Macy's pulled out all the stops Saturday at its official Salem unveiling.

It gave customers the red-carpet treatment with music, chocolate, cake and punch, and discount coupons for the earliest birds.

Shoppers arrived as early as 7:45 a.m. to line up around the block for the event, and the first 300 were given envelopes with coupons valued between $10 and $500. The musical trio Three Gs -- Griffith, Gleason and Greiner -- provided a light-jazz background on the bass, trombone and guitar until the last of the early birds were in the store

Rep. Vicki Berger and Sen. Jackie Winters, both Salem Republicans, and Mayor Janet Taylor were helped out with the ribbon cutting by a 2-year-old boy in the front of the line.

Some shoppers said they hoped that Macy's stays true to at least one of Meier & Frank's draws: the sales.

"We spend most of our (shopping) money in that store because of the sales," said Tina Bush, 38, of Salem.

Bush came through the red carpet with her pink-clad daughters Sophia, 4, and Samantha, 5. The girls expressed delight with the chocolate treats; Tina Bush praised with the overall experience.

"I think Macy's is nicer and cleaner overall; that was the impression I got right away," Bush said. "It's more up to the standards we like. Not only do we want the sales, but we want the shopping experience, too. There's nothing therapeutic about shopping in" (big-box stores)."