Macy's announces Waterfront store will close

The Macy's in Homestead's Waterfront shopping district has been a longtime fixture, but soon, that's going to change.

The 66 employees who work there learned Thursday the store will close.

"I think it's sad because this is the nearest one we have,” said customer Lynnie Brown.

Brown said she'll now have to trek out to Monroeville to get to the next-closest store: a half hour by car or more than an hour by bus.

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The retail giant is the latest big box store to announce it will close stores in the Pittsburgh area. Just last week, Toys R Us announced it will close four of its locations.

But the Macy's departure won't stifle progress at the Waterfront.

"This allows us as the Waterfront to continue with our future plans for development and ongoing enhancement of the space," said spokesperson Hollie Geitner.

On Thursday, the company that owns the shopping center announced it purchased the 140,000-square-foot Macy's building and parking lot. It's in talks with several restaurants and envisioning adding housing, but nothing is set in stone.

Channel 11 asked shoppers what they thought.

"You can't have too many restaurants,” said Marilyn Thomas.

"They have enough housing out here. There's houses in the Waterfront, there's houses above the Waterfront, so I don't think they should do that,” said Laquinn Allen.

Macy’s will hold a clearance sale starting Feb. 11 that will last eight to 12 weeks. The doors will shut for good as soon as all the inventory is sold.

Cox Media Group