Macy's To Cut Thousands Of Jobs, Close 40 Stores, Including Century III Mall Location

WEST MIFFLIN (KDKA/AP) - Another vacancy sign will soon be going up at Century III Mall.

Macy's Department Store, which opened its doors in West Mifflin in 1979, is one of about 40 Macy's stores nationwide closing in the next few weeks.

The announcement of store closures and job cuts on Wednesday follows what the company is calling "a miserable shopping season."

The Cincinnati-based department store chain says sales fell 5.2 percent in November and December at existing stores. Warm weather and lower spending by international tourists hurt sales.

About 100 Macy's employees at the Century III location will be losing their jobs.

Mark Dressler of Whitehall told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "I'm sad to hear it because we need it. It will hurt the [Century III] mall."

Dr. Audrey Guskey, of Duquesne University, said, "I'm really not surprised that Macy's is closing the store at Century III, because they've been struggling for years."

Dr. Guskey, a marketing professor and consumer expert, believes Macy's is having an identity crisis, explaining that "the retail giant has been searching for a niche, and they haven't been able to find one."

Just over a year ago, the Sears at the Century III store shut its doors.

Last summer, the Macy's store in downtown Pittsburgh shuttered its doors.

Century III shoppers say Macy's closing in the West Mifflin shopping complex will definitely be a loss for the South Hills region.

Amanda Noel, of Glassport, said, "It's sad because it's one of the only stores you can shop at around here."

Macy's said Wednesday that it now expects its profit for its fiscal fourth quarter and full year, which run through January, to fall short of its previous estimate.

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It sees fourth-quarter earnings per share at $2.18 to $2.23, compared with the average analyst estimate of $2.56 per share.

The company's shares are up 1.4 percent in extended trading.

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