Macy’s Backstage, A New Outlet-Style Store, To Open At Loehmann’s Seaport Plaza

Macy’s will soon debut a set of new outlet-style discount stores with its first four locations in the New York City area – including Loehmann’s Seaport Plaza at 2027 Emmons Avenue.

Macy’s announced yesterday that it was throwing a hat into the ring with retailers like T.J. Maxx and Nordstrom Rack, opening test stores called Macy’s Backstage for off-price brand name apparel. The company hopes to serve its first Backstage customers this fall.

In addition to clothing, they’ll sell home furnishings, and will include clearance goods from regular Macy’s stores. Each location will measure approximately 30,000 square feet, about one-fifth the size of a regular Macy’s, according to NBC New York.

At least one location will also test a cafe concept, though it’s not yet clear which location this will be.

The 2027 Emmons Avenue locations was first announced by Crain’s New York, which also reports that the remaining locations will be in Elmhurst, Queens, and the other two in Long Island suburbs.

The Emmons Avenue space is already tailor made for such a discount store, having previously been home to Loehmann’s since the 1990s. That location closed in early 2014 after the parent company went bankrupt. The building was constructed after a long battle with neighbors, who argued that it was out of scale of the area. The developer’s special permit specifies a department store use for the space, limiting its choice of tenants.

The building’s current owners won approval recently to build an additional floor of offices, arguing that it was an investment to keep the property financially viable after Superstorm Sandy flooded the basement and led to long-term discounts in rents.