When Filene's was bought by Federated Department Stores, Inc. this past February for $17 billion, many anticipated changes to Downtown Crossing. After already going through an identity crisis (changing from Boston's own Jordan Marsh to Macy's), the Macy's storefront has always remained a competitor with Filene's and her basement across the street. This recent buyout of Filene's now leaves Federated, who happens to own Macy's too, with two stores across the street from one another. A Globe article today mentions talk of Target execs' interest in taking over the Macy's spot and turning it into one of their stores. According to our beloved mayor, he was in Istanbul last month at the International Council of Shopping Centers, and was chatting it up with them. Menino of course put in his two cents: "I'm a big fan of Target...It would bring a lot of vibrancy to that area."
Federated also announced in March that they are planning on turning most of the May Department Stores into Macy's. This would then mean our Filene's and the bargain basement included, could become a Macy's (a higher chance if Target is eyeing the Macy's property on Summer Street).
While many other cities have recently welcomed large chain stores into their downtowns, saving city folks a trip into the 'burbs, Boston has yet to really jump on this bandwagon. (In terms of Target, one has to travel all the way to Somerville, Watertown or the South Bay Center off I-93.) Manhattan has recently welcomed big chains like Target, Kmart and Home Depot to their little island.
Bostonist does love the Target and introducing it into Downtown Crossing will be another step in Menino's plan to class up the Washington Street area from the porn mecca it once was. Just please don't touch those street carts hocking "hot nuts" and the great deals on flowers...yes, Bostonist said "hot nuts."
Photo courtesy of The AP / Steven Senne
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