Macy's Escalators Get Better as You Go Up

A few weeks ago, when I wrote a post bemoaning that Macy's Herald Square had removed their historic wooden escalators and replaced them with metal ones, a few sharp-eyed readers wrote it to say that the wooden ones remained in place on the upper floors of the store.

So, the next time I went to Macy's, I took the long journey to the top. And they were right. The top two floors still have the classic escalators. And they look as great as ever.

The escalators on the lower floors will supposed by returned to their rightful place after a renovation of the store is completed.

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Macy's Wooden Escalators Gone, but May Return

A recent visit to Macy's Herald Square brought back the hurtful reminder that most (all?) of the wooden treads on the ancient, historic wooden escalators have been replaced in recent years by standard metal trades. Apparently, a series of accidents resulted in the old wooden treads being ripped out. The sides of the Otis escalators remain wooden, but the crowning beauty of the contraptions was really the treads. The wood was warm; the metal is cold. I went up several floors looking for ones that were still wood, but didn't find any. Maybe they lurk at the top of the building.

But when I went home to do some research on the subject, I was delighted and surprised to find a story in the Nov. 1 edition of the New York Times that reported that Macy's is planning an extension, multi-year renovation of its flagship store, to begin this spring. Included in the redo will be the "preservation of 42 of 43 historic wooden escalators in the current store – a unique and distinguishing feature of Macy’s Herald Square." So they're coming back, I guess!

Among the other welcome improvement: "Restoring the first floor “great hall”... The original great hall’s ceiling height will be restored"; and "The ornate “Memorial Entrance” on 34th Street will be restored and reopened. Windows along Broadway, 34th Street and Seventh Avenue, which have been covered up over the years, will be reopened. Windows on the upper floors also will be uncovered to allow more natural light into the building. Sidewalks will be replaced, with Macy’s-branded paved “welcome mats” added at every entrance. Awnings and canopies reminiscent of the original building will be added. New exterior lighting will highlight the building’s elegant architectural details."

For those who wonder what the old wooden escalators looked like, here's a video I took back in 2008.

For Your Viewing Enjoyment

Ladies and gentlemen, the antique wooden escalators at Macy's Herald Square.

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Frank Bruni writes lots and lots about Florent.

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The Macy's Gift That Keeps on Giving

I went to Macy's last night because I was in the area and I heard they were keeping late hours this year, so I thought I could get some shopping done.

Of course, the place drove me near mad, with its aisles of mundane merchandise and its lackadaisical sales staff. However, the visit was worth it for the escalators. Macy's possesses what are probably the only wooden escalators left in the City. They have wooden walls and many still have wooden tracks on the steps. Something about all that wood makes them emit a soothing clickety-clack that's quite missing from the usual steel-escalator experience. It's very soothing, something that could likely put a baby to sleep after a few floors.