Finally, the first dual Market by Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage store will open this fall in Chicagoland. Customers can shop at both stores all under one roof, with Market by Macy’s located on the first floor and Backstage on the second floor.

“At Macy’s, we thrive on retail being a dynamic business requiring continuous analysis, reinvention and innovation. As customer preferences and buying behaviors change, we continue to evolve to deliver the experience our customers expect,” said Marc Mastronardi, chief stores officer at Macy’s. 

“As exciting brand extensions, Market by Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage each offer unique shopping experiences – one celebrates discovery and convenience, while the other appeals to the customer who loves the thrill of the hunt for a great value.”

The openings are part of the company’s ‘Polaris’ strategy, which is focused on repositioning its physical store footprint to better serve its customers and effectively support omnichannel market sales growth. 

In the company’s Polaris strategy, off-mall, small formats play several roles including expanding its presence in a current market, maintaining market presence by replacing underperforming locations or entering new markets where Macy’s doesn’t have a presence.

Since 2015, Macy’s Backstage has expanded to more than 300 Macy’s stores nationwide. Most recently, the newest Backstage freestanding location, Grapevine Mills, opened in Spring 2022 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Meanwhile, in 2020, the first Market by Macy’s debuted in the Dallas-Fort Worth area at Southlake, which was followed by four new stores in 2021. By the end of 2022, Macy’s says it plans to expand Market by Macy’s to eight total locations.