Discounts Available As Macy's St. Cloud Prepares To Close

I'm still not loving the fact that Macy's St. Cloud will be closing. Macy's announced that they are closing several stores, and St. Cloud happens to be one of them. This was announced last week. It's really a bummer, as it has been a staple from Dayton's to Marshall Fields and then the transition to Macy's. Federated, the parent company, has been in financial trouble for several years, and in the last few years transitioned to Macy's Inc.

SHOPPERS WONDERING HOW LONG THEY HAVE TO SHOP AT MACY'S

After the announcment, many people were asking when and if they would have a sale. The latter question is probably coming from people who are hoping that they are going to be able to score some great prices on Macy's merchandise. The short answer is "of course they will". The longer answer is that it will come in steps.

WHEN WILL THE STORE BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED

The actual closing date can not be completely determined because it depends on when things are sold. The tentative date is the end of April, but it could happen before that if all the merchandise in the store is sold before that. And the sale will run in steps. It will start will a smaller percentage, and move up from that. If you look at clearance items currently, those items will have the best deals at 60-70 percent off the original price. Get there early, because those items will go very quickly.

THE STORE ALREADY LOOKS BARE COMPARED TO A WEEK AGO

If you go to Macy's now, you will notice that a lot fo the merchandise is already gone. Some has been sold, and some has been sent to other stores that are remaining open - mostly in the metro area. If you have ever worked retail when a store is closing or moving, and there are still other stores remaining open, this is a normal practice. Items that are not going to be discounted will be shipped out. If a store is completely closing, like going out of business, then that will be a different process.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MACY'S CLOSING

If you shop at Macy's in St. Cloud, you will not get your Star Rewards, that is the rewards program through Macy's. You will also not be able to return anythng to the St. Cloud store. You will have to go to the metro area. And the clearance items and Last Act are final sales. The sales employees at Macy's will generally remind you of this when you make a purchase. No gift cards will be sold either.

Get our free mobile app

LOOK: 20 Outside-the-Box Uses for Vacant Big-Box Stores

When a big-box store shuts down, its closure can significantly affect the local community and its economy. In numerous instances, the emphasis has shifted from traditional retail to more experiential opportunities. Let's explore 20 innovative businesses and services that can make the most of these adaptable spaces.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LOOK: 50 Famous brands that no longer exist

Stacker compiled a list of more than four dozen famous consumer brands that no longer exist, consulting sites such as TheStreet, Good Housekeeping, and Eat This, Not That!, along with numerous throwback sites dedicated to consumer brands.

Gallery Credit: Liz Barrett Foster