By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis – Mayor Francis Slay says Federated Department Stores' decision to convert the Famous-Barr store downtown to a Macy's is an important step for the city.
The store is one of some 330 that Federated will convert to Macy's, once the retailer's buyout of May Department Stores is formalized.
Slay says he's happy to hear that the store will remain open, and he says changing it to a Macy's should attract more shoppers downtown.
"We're trying to create a strong retail mix," Slay said. "That helps us make downtown more attractive to people who live there, to people who visit there, and people who work downtown and it helps us with our efforts to attract conventions."
Slay says Federated has not decided yet how many jobs will remain in the space downtown that currently houses May's corporate headquarters.