MEDIA CONTACT:

Primary:
Jim McKay
Co-Organizer & Webmaster
jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org


November 4, 2011

Some things have changed since Black Friday, November 25, 2005 when this site was started. But one thing has not changed: Chicago still, overwhelmingly, wants Marshall Field's.

As of this writing in 2011, the first and primary goal is on restoring Marshall Field's in name, style and service to the world-renowned State Street flagship. Our considerations are forward-looking. Restoring Marshall Field's to State Street and reinventing it for the 21st Century would have a huge, positive impact that would clearly benefit many groups: Chicago as a whole; Macy's stock holders; Chicago's design, fashion and culinary community; and tax payers.

  • For Chicago as a whole, this would be a huge boost that would lift and energize the city.
  • For Macy's Stock Holders: Marshall Field's is a name, brand and ethos last publicly appraised in the mid 2000s as having a greater cash value than that of Macy's and Bloomingdale's trade names and brands combined.
  • For Chicago's design, culinary and fashion community, it has meant the loss of what was internationally known by far as Chicago's best retail name and brand.
  • For Chicago culture and tourism, it has meant a greatly homogenized attraction and diminished Chicago experience.
  • For Tax Payers: Marshall Field's has directly and indirectly cost millions in lost tax revenue.


Our proposal "A 21st-century Marshall Field's For A 21st-century Chicago" outlines why it makes sense to bring back Marshall Field's to State Street and, based on sound business precedents, how it could happen. Nobody would lose--All parties involved from Chicago to Macy's stock holders to Macy's President, CEO and Chair Terry Lungren to the world at lerge could all win.

Here's to the once and future Marshall Field's.


Black Friday, November 25, 2005
Why I Started This Blog (and site)

(Standard Disclaimer follows )

Just a couple of days after Federated Stores announced it was changing the name of all 62 Marshall Field’s to Macy’s, I found myself staying in NYC, by coincidence, just a block from Macy’s 34th Street flagship.  Although I was in "Macy's Territory," a couple of my New Yorker friends brought up Marshall Field’s as they were disappointed to hear about it's pending change to Macy's.  Two weeks later, in early October, I was back in NYC at a wedding reception in Chelsea.  A couple from New York also brought up their regret at how it will not be the same when Marshall Field's becomes Macy’s. They wished they could visit before the change.  It was if a beloved family member or friend we all knew was diagnosed as terminally ill.

These experiences and others through the years drove home to me how Marshall Field’s is a world-class institution and how a change to a brand associated with New York City would obscure part of Chicago’s identity.  A special supplement celebrating Field’s 150 Anniversary in the Chicago Tribune put it best: Field’s is ”as Chicago as it gets.”

This website is for, by and about fans of Marshall Field’s, in their recognition of this distinctly Chicago institution and how it has contributed significantly to Chicago’s reputation as a world-class city in design, fashion, architecture, culture and philanthropy.

Another website, KEEPITFIELDS.ORG has done great job of getting people to sign a petition asking Federated to reconsider their decision.  Please sign it now if you have not already.  If you check the list of those signing, you will even see the names of former Illinois Governor James Thompson, as well as Minnesota Senator Dayton, a descendent of the family who founded Dayton stores (which later chose to assume the Field's name), and many, many others—over 40,000 "Field's Fans" as of this writing.

This site, while independent of keepitfields.org, is intended to complement it with my own regular bloggings on Field’s and what it means to Chicago, as well as offer the opportunity for guest writers to contribute their own perspectives on this icon of Chicago history and identity. 
 


 Standard disclaimer

This is a non-profit, non-commercial, non-sponsored site developed with the sole intention of focusing on what Marshall Field’s has meant to Chicagoans or anyone who love this great Chicago institution. The views and opinions expressed on these pages are solely those of the authors listed and do not necessaarily represent those who operate this site. This site is NOT affiliated in any way with Marshall Field's, the May Company, Federated Department Stores, or keepitfields.org. ©2006 All Rights Reserved.

email the webmaster jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org

 

Special thanks and admiration to the many who have contributed but especially Gail, A., John, Nick Potts, Mike, P., Paul and, of course, Gloria..


Revision of 11.4.2011
Email the webmaster at jjmckay@fieldsfanschicago.org
This site is NOT affiliated in any way with Marshall Field's, Macy's,Macy's, Inc., Federated Department Stores, its subsidiaries, or keepitfields.org. Clock image ©2006 D. Staub via CreativeCommons.org
©2006, 2007, 2011 All Rights Reserved.