Macy’s Pulls Back: Seven Florida Stores Closing, Palm Beach County Not Spared

Macy’s has officially announced that its store located at the Boynton Beach Mall will be among the 66 stores set to close as part of a major restructuring plan revealed on Thursday. The closure is expected to take place within the next few months, following a series of clearance sales aimed at liquidating the store’s remaining inventory. This decision will bring an end to Macy’s 36-year presence at the Boynton Beach Mall, marking a significant shift for both the retailer and the shopping center.

The move is part of Macy’s newly introduced strategic initiative, referred to as the “Bold New Chapter.” This plan is designed to help the company achieve long-term, profitable growth by optimizing its retail footprint and focusing on more productive locations. As part of this strategy, Macy’s intends to close approximately 150 underperforming stores across the country over the next three years, streamlining its operations and reallocating resources to enhance overall business performance.

Macy’s has announced the closure of several stores across Florida as part of its broader restructuring strategy. The stores scheduled to close in the state include:

• Boynton Beach Mall – 801 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach

• Fort Lauderdale Furniture – 4501 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

• Pembroke Furniture – 13640 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines

• South Dade Furniture – 13251 S. Dixie Highway, Miami

• West Shore Plaza – 298 Westshore Plaza, Tampa

• Altamonte Furniture – 820 W. Town Parkway, Altamonte Springs

• Southgate – 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

To facilitate the closures, Macy’s will launch clearance sales at these locations, starting this month. The sales, expected to last between eight and twelve weeks, will offer significant discounts as the company clears out remaining inventory before permanently shutting the stores.

Following these closures, Macy’s presence in Palm Beach County will be reduced to just three locations: The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, The Mall at Wellington Green, and Town Center at Boca Raton. These stores are not affected by the current closures and will continue operating as usual.

This is not the first wave of Macy’s closures in the area. In 2017, the Macy’s store at CityPlace (now The Square) in West Palm Beach was shut down along with 67 other stores nationwide due to declining sales. The company cited shifting consumer habits and growing competition from online retailers, big-box chains, and fast-fashion brands as key reasons for the downsizing.

Additionally, last year Macy’s closed its furniture store located at 9339 Glades Road in suburban Boca Raton as part of a separate round of closures. The property was later acquired by Christ Fellowship.

These latest closures reflect Macy’s ongoing efforts to streamline its operations by phasing out underperforming stores while focusing on more profitable locations as part of its “Bold New Chapter” strategy for long-term sustainability.

In early 2024, Christ Fellowship made a significant real estate acquisition by purchasing a 50,000-square-foot former Macy’s furniture store near Lyons Road in suburban Boca Raton for $23.5 million. The church has ambitious plans for the property, with extensive renovations set to begin later this year. The remodeling project will include a full interior demolition to transform the space into a worship center suitable for large congregations and events.

Leo Abdella, Christ Fellowship’s director of real estate development, shared that the church aims to complete the renovations in time for its inaugural Easter services in April 2026. Until construction begins, the former Macy’s building will be temporarily used for smaller meetings and gatherings. Regular worship services and other church activities will continue at Christ Fellowship’s existing location nearby, at 9087 Glades Road, just east of the newly acquired property.

Meanwhile, Christ Fellowship’s presence at the Boynton Beach Mall remains unchanged. The church has no plans to vacate its current space there, even as the 91-acre mall undergoes a major redevelopment. The church originally purchased the former Dillard’s North building along with seven acres of surrounding land in 2012 and has been holding regular services at the site since 2014.

By maintaining its Boynton Beach location while expanding in Boca Raton, Christ Fellowship continues to solidify its presence in the region, serving its growing congregation through multiple venues.

In 2020, Washington Prime Group, the owner of the Boynton Beach Mall, received official rezoning approval to transform the property into a large-scale, mixed-use development. The redevelopment project, based on preliminary conceptual designs, envisions a vibrant, multi-purpose community space combining residential, commercial, and recreational elements.

The approved plans allow for the construction of over 1,700 multifamily residential units, offering a mix of housing options to accommodate various lifestyles and family sizes. Additionally, the project includes 400 hotel rooms, catering to both business and leisure travelers, as well as creating potential for increased tourism in the area.

A significant portion of the development, approximately 482,750 square feet, will be dedicated to retail spaces, aimed at revitalizing the shopping experience with a diverse range of stores and dining options. The plans also include general office spaces, medical offices, a fitness center, and fast-food restaurants, creating a balanced blend of work, wellness, and leisure facilities within the same complex.

This ambitious redevelopment reflects a growing trend of reimagining traditional mall spaces into modern, mixed-use destinations designed to meet evolving community needs while boosting the local economy.

Leo Abdella emphasized that the residential component planned for the Boynton Beach Mall’s redevelopment makes the site particularly well-suited for a church presence. He expressed the belief that churches play a vital role in the heart of every community, stating, “Every community needs a church in the middle of it.”

A significant development in the mall’s transformation occurred with the recent $15 million sale of the Macy’s building in Boynton Beach to Washington Prime Group (WPG), the mall’s owner. This transaction is seen as a crucial step in consolidating WPG’s property holdings within the mall, streamlining ownership, and bringing the entire redevelopment project closer to becoming a reality.

The Macy’s building at the Boynton Beach Mall, originally constructed in 1984, has long been a key fixture of the shopping center since its grand opening that same year. Initially, the space was occupied by Burdines, a well-known Florida-based department store chain. However, in 2005, following Macy’s acquisition of Burdines, the store was rebranded as Macy’s. Interestingly, Macy’s had previously opened its first location within the mall in 1989 but later relocated to the former Burdines space.

In recent years, the Boynton Beach Mall has experienced noticeable decline, with many storefronts sitting vacant and overall foot traffic decreasing. The property, situated on the west side of North Congress Avenue just north of Old Boynton Road, has struggled to maintain its former vibrancy as consumer shopping habits have shifted.

In August 2023, Washington Prime Group (WPG), the mall’s owner, officially placed the property on the market, signaling a potential major shift in its future. Commercial real estate firm JLL Capital Markets has been tasked with marketing the site, promoting it as a rare “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for redevelopment. The property is being presented as a teardown, emphasizing the potential for a complete transformation rather than a renovation of the existing structure.

When the Boynton Beach Mall first opened in 1984, it featured several prominent retail anchors, including Burdines, JCPenney, Jordan Marsh, and Lord & Taylor, all of which were major department store brands at the time. Today, one of the mall’s most active retailers is the Dillard’s Clearance Center, which remains a popular shopping destination often bustling with bargain hunters seeking discounted merchandise. The mall also houses more than 80 other businesses, including a diverse mix of 15 food establishments and restaurants, as well as a bakery known as Aloha Bakery and Café.

Macy’s Future Plans and Challenges:

Looking ahead, Macy’s has announced a shift in strategy focused on expanding its presence in the luxury retail market. The company, which also owns high-end brands Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury, plans to increase its luxury retail footprint by 20% with the addition of new Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury locations. This move reflects Macy’s efforts to focus on upscale shopping experiences, hoping to attract a more affluent customer base.

However, like many traditional department stores, Macy’s has faced significant financial challenges in recent years. The rise of e-commerce and changing consumer shopping habits have led to a decline in foot traffic at brick-and-mortar locations, impacting overall sales performance. As a result, Macy’s stock has struggled. As of late Friday, the company’s share price had dropped more than 1.8% and has declined nearly 8% since the start of the year, underscoring the ongoing difficulties faced by the retail giant in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Macy’s has announced that clearance sales at its stores scheduled for closure will run for a period of approximately eight to twelve weeks, providing shoppers with an extended opportunity to take advantage of discounted prices before the locations permanently shut their doors.

For Macy’s Backstage stores and Macy’s Furniture Galleries, the clearance events will begin in February and are expected to continue for about six weeks.

Additionally, the sale of Macy’s gift cards will be restricted at the affected locations. After Saturday, January 11, customers will no longer be able to purchase gift cards at any Macy’s stores slated for closure. Similarly, gift cards will no longer be available for purchase at Macy’s Backstage locations after February 3.