The SALEM REPORTER
SALEM — Macy’s will lay off 56 Salem employees in March due to the permanent closure of its downtown store.
In a Jan. 9 notification sent to the state as required by federal labor law, the company announced that all 56 job eliminations are permanent and will occur March 18-31.
“Information about benefits will be made available to impacted employees as well as information about the opportunity to transfer to open positions in nearby Macy’s locations,” the notice said.
The layoffs include four managers and dozens of workers across the fine jewelry, asset protection, cosmetic sales, administration and other departments. The company told its Salem workers about the closure months before it was announced to the public last week.
Employees at the downtown Salem location are not unionized and have no bumping rights, meaning that affected employees cannot replace lower-level workers to remain in the company.
“Should an employee be re-hired by Macy’s at a later date, service date, pay rate and benefits will be in accordance with then-existing policies and practices,” the document said.
The downtown Salem location is among the 64 closing nationwide in 2025, Macy’s announced last week. Clearance sales will begin this month and are expected to last 8 to 12 weeks.
The store is located at 400 High Street N.E. It opened in 1955 as a Meier & Frank and eventually sold to Macy’s parent company in 2006.
The 188,000 square foot building is owned by a group of investors who include the owners of the Salem Center Mall. It’s expected to be remodeled into smaller entertainment and retail spaces. The group also owns the adjacent parking lot, which will remain.
The company will provide severance benefits to eligible employees, and will attempt to offer affected workers new positions within the company “wherever available,” a company spokesperson told the Salem Reporter last week.
