What sort of bargains did you find at the Filene's store closing sale?

Damn Federated Department Stores and their bottom line! They are ruining a lot of the older departmetn stores they have been gobbling up in the past few years.

Although I have never been to Filene's it is one of those institutions that make up part of my world leading me to feel secure just to know they exist... like the Smithsonian or the B & O railroad, Woolworth's and, and... what else?

RIP Woolworths for you are missed!

I still haven't recovered from the loss of G. Fox in downtown Hartford.

KR Craft I remember the GFox in Westfield MA well.

I'm proud to report I got a belted raincoat w/ hood for $20 at a small little family owned department store. Long live the little guys!

I work at Filene's - in Belmont Center, one of the TWO stores NOT closing, but converting to Macy's in September. The other is Cambridgeside Galleria.

Yes, Federated's acquisition of the May Department stores across the country is very sad. Nobody at Filene's is happy about it. Federated has deeper pockets; Macy's will have 900 stores coast-to-coast in September.

Macy's will continue to carry Karen Scott and John Ashford, two Filene's brands. But I don't think Macy's will carry Valerie Stevens, I.E., Erica Taylor or Amanda Smith, all of which are very lovely.

Not a day goes by in the store when customers comment: "This is SO sad. I don't like Macy's.

Good to know Kathryn because my husband is a big fan of John Asford for his work shirts!

Oh, and I'm sad to hear about the brands that will not be carried! I did not even think about the brand effect!

Macy's is good for certain things.
Long live Filene's Basement!!

Have you heard about the add-on to the Natick Mall (to be finished Dec 2007). There will be 220 luxury condos as part of the mall. They start at $1M. I don't think a $1M view is the mall parking lot.

Also, Kathryn I'm glad to hear that you get to keep your job!

I just took a look at the Boston Globe story. On the prices at the closeout stores: They are reduced from the original prices, which is the MSRP sticker price.

Rarely are clothes actually sold at the MSRP price, even when they come in, except for the big designers.

The sale prices at the remaining stores are better than the final prices at the closeout stores, in some cases, or in many cases.

The perception that the prices may be higher than previously at the closeout stores is correct. Some bargains, but not in everything.

Macy's merchandise will be coming to the Belmont store in July. Until then, buy Filene's. Look in the newspapers or in your Filene's charge card flyers for information on the weekly sales. They're pretty good.

The May Department store people took their profits, but ran Filene's into the ground. The Belmont store has old fixtures, which were never repaired. We hope for some improvements in this area.

Also, the May Department store had some sloppy business practices that affected their bottom line. For example, a customer could apply a gift card or a store credit to their Filene's charge account. Macy's does not allow this. Macy's wants gift cards and store credits to be redeemed at the register, which counts as cash and ups the gross revenue of the store.

Still, I am sad. I only came to Boston when I was 27, but that's long enough to be a Filene's lover for life.

I have a story on Filene's, "Filene's Super One Day Sale Saturday, or, Peggy Sue Doesn't Work Here Anymore." Just published.

Leah, yeah, we are unionized, too, unlike most Macy/Filene's store. We are VERY happy we remain in the store and VERY happy Macy's accepted the new union contract a few weeks ago. Raises, among other things.

That's great, and very fair about the contract.

Can you send me a link to the story on Filene's that you mention?