Comments on: Macy’s Departure Is Due To Inept Government

By: Reality Check

Reality Check — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:55:32 +0000

Are you an idiot? Your story says that the Bon and the Mode and others vanished because of Boise politicos. What do Boise politicos have to do with the Bon selling to Macy’s, the creation of a national chain and a redundant, unneeded downtown store for their concept? Or, the demise of the Mode as a viable department store, in an era of dead regional merchants throughout North America? Think before you speak. Its easy to play the blame game about anything, when you’re Mr. No and do nothing positive for our community. At least, be informed before you spread dangerous misinformation and your brainwarped garble.

EDITOR NOTE–Thank you for your kind words. Can we assume when new stores, law schools and restaurants OPEN there is no credit to be given the politicos either?

By: sam the sham

sam the sham — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:39:03 +0000

ahhh yes, I remember the buildings torn down during the Urban Development of the 70’s. Almost lost what is now called The Egyptian Theater.
And much of what was torn down for great plans are still parking lots.
And then there is the infamous Hole on the corner of Main and 8th….
Perhaps we will have more until people think that we were bombed.

By: JIMV

JIMV — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:21:19 +0000

Perhaps if they did something like Spokane’s downtown shopping district, they might get somewhere. Just like there is a limit to shoe stores in a mall, perhaps there is a limit to boutique shops in a center city. And folk are not going to move downtown without both easy cheap parking and reasonable housing costs. As long as the city promotes boutique business and expensive housing, they will see failures every economic downturn.

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:45:02 +0000

I remember well that there was great debate as to building the mall downtown in the dustbowl (as it was called) or out west of town. When Sears and Penneys decided that they would only have new stores in the mall if it were built out west of town, that ended the debate. I cut up my Sears and Penneys charge cards and mailed them to the presidents of Sears and Penney. It didn’t stop the mall from being built where it is. Parts of downtown Boise are still a dustbowl.

By: serendipity

serendipity — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:26:22 +0000

serendipity
Jan 8, 2010, 8:22 pm
” Despite efforts of downtown developers and politicos, there isn’t much of a “condo community” in downtown Boise and there never will be.” Right!! Who the heck would want to live right in the thick of auto-exhaust-ville? Plus these outfits are way overpriced. I often wonder how these condo owners can get away with holding on to empty properties for years on end with no financial repercussions? Anybody have an answer?

As for downtown Macy’s, I’m devastated. I loathe shopping at the Mall Macy’s because you can hardly ever find a clerk. It’s disorganised to the point that it’s too time-wasting to FIND what one’s looking for, unless one can walk a mile to track down a clerk and ask. I loved shopping at downtown Macy’s because the clerks there were always super helpful and you could always find one. I never had to pick over acres of c–p to find decent clothing. At the Mall store, it’s acres of c–p, so far as clothes go.

By: One Store Closing is Another Store Opening

One Store Closing is Another Store Opening — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:54:38 +0000

The demise of the Bon/Macy Downtown is at least as much their own fault as it is the fault of the city. And, in retrospect, they probably made the right move each step of the way. My memory of events is that back in about 1980, the then new Karcher Mall was THE place to shop. They were driving Boise Merchants nuts. I remember envoys to Saint Nordstroms and all sorts of shenanigans to thwart those pesky Canyon County retailers.

The threat might have gone away on its own if they had just waited, but waiting has its own risks. The response to Karcher was the Towne Square Mall, with Macys on board, and it continues to be successful.

The problem is, this area is not big/rich enough to support 3 or more stores of the Bon/Macy caliber. Five or ten Walmarts, sure. Macy’s no. In many respects, it is a surprise the downtown store lasted as long as it did.

The downtown building is still a good location, but for something, someone, else.

By: Clancy

Clancy — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:11:55 +0000

Dang, I pedaled down to Macy’s to buy wife’s Christmas present every year. Now I will find some other place as I am not riding my bike out to the mall.

Maybe somebody like Mark Rivers will do justice to that old building.

By: TJ

TJ — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:01:08 +0000

I am sure we who shopped at the Bon for many years will miss that nice “swamp cooler” smell in the summer.

By: Clippityclop

Clippityclop — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:11:25 +0000

I detest going to the mall and am very sorry to see the old Bon go. For those of us who work downtown or live in the Northend, it was fab, even though limited in some merchandise. I doubt the mall store will pick up the slack or be as productive per square foot.

By: Vamp

Vamp — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:40:56 +0000

Some of you have it wrong. Downtown is not dying nor is it dead. I work downtown, live in the East end and there are still better shops and restaurants downtown than anywhere else in the city. The current trend downtown of having some vacant storefronts is what every other city in the nation is experiencing, it is not exclusive to Boise. There are more clothing stores for men scattered around downtown then there are at the mall. Some of the best shopping for female clothing according to my girlfriend is downtown and not at the mall. The most creative restaurants in the valley are downtown.

I rarely need to travel to West Boise to shop because everything I need is at stores downtown or along the major streets near downtown.

Back to Macy’s. I think the reason it is closing is Macy’s fault for never upgrading the building they are in, they never invested in it and frankly there are a lot more reasons to shop downtown than Macy’s.