Before Macy’s became a New York retail institution, it was a string of failed dry goods stores in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Rowland Hussey Macy didn’t find success until 1858, when he opened a new shop on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. That gamble paid off—big.
By 1902, Macy’s moved uptown to Herald Square, eventually growing into what’s still referred to as the “World’s Largest Store,” spanning 2.5 million square feet and covering an entire city block.
Macy’s was a pioneer. It was the first store in the world to feature a modern escalator, installed in 1902. Remarkably, some of those original wooden-step escalators still operate inside the store today.
And Macy’s wasn’t shy about pushing boundaries. It once sold airplanes and full-scale model homes on its ninth floor. After Prohibition, it became the first retailer in New York to receive a liquor license.
Hungry while shopping? The flagship now houses 22 restaurants and can seat 1,100 people at once.
Then there’s the parade. What began in 1924 as a way to promote the store’s expansion became a cultural tradition: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. At first, it featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo—until 1927, when frightened children prompted a switch to the now-iconic balloons.
During World War II, the parade was paused (1942–1944), and Macy’s donated the deflated balloons—650 pounds of rubber—to the war effort.
And that famous red star in the logo? It’s not just design—it was a tattoo R.H. Macy got as a young sailor, a mark of his personal journey long before Macy’s became a New York icon.
Love NYC history as much as real estate? Follow along for more local stories, market insights, and the neighborhoods that make this city unforgettable.
