First State Times

A business staple in the local community for the past 29 years has announced that it will close.

Macy’s, one of the original anchor stores in The Centre at Salisbury will close its doors in the next three months, according to a statement released by the New York-based retailer.

Spokeswoman Katelyn Yannie told the Delaware State News that the store has planned to start a clearance sale for the next 12 weeks and has notified employees of the pending store closure.

Severance packages will be offered to full-time employees and job placement assistance will also be available. She noted that other store locations, including the Annapolis Mall and the Dover Mall will remain open. Consumers are also encouraged to use online shopping options.

Yannie said the decision to close the Salisbury location is a difficult one, adding that the store was happy to serve the community for the past 29 years.

Many residents remember the long history of the story, as it started as Hecht's when the mall first opened in 1990 with four other anchor stores: Boscov’s, JCPenney, Sears and Montgomery Ward. Hecht's became Macy's over a decade later in 2006, while three of the other stores eventually closed, leaving Boscov's as the lone remaining anchor store open for business.

Other businessess have since opened to fill the void, including Dick's Sporting Goods, the Regal Cinema and the Burlington Coat Factory.