Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus — Macy’s
and you can find him at Macy’s starting the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas eve.
When I moved to NYC in 1979 there were more than ten major department stores occupying beautifully detailed pre-war buildings with big storefront windows mostly along Fifth Avenue. It was the holidays when you planned a day or evening to walk Fifth Avenue from Rockefeller Center over to Macy’s 34th Street to see and privately rank the best windows of the season. Heartier people would start the walk from the Plaza Hotel at 59th Street to take in FAO Schwarz, Bergdorf’s and Henri Bendel’s among others.
Several times my then boyfriend and I did the walk after midnight mass Christmas Eve. One year we discovered a light snow had been falling, while we were inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Although quite cold, it was just too magical to rush home so instead we took our time photographing the tree at Rock Center, taking in the fairy tale stories being displayed in the store windows from Saks to B. Altman’s and then walked on to Macy’s. Many scenes were animated, some were futuristic, but often the most favored were the stories being told of Christmases past in a New York of an eariler era.
Lord & Taylor often got the top spot for me but Macy’s Miracle on 34th Street, which they display every year in their 34th Street side windows, remains my favorite.
Sadly, we’ve lost most of those wonderful stores with their holiday window displays. But thankfully, we do still have Macy’s.
Macy’s Herald Square takes up one entire city block and includes 1.1 million square feet (per Wikipedia) of retail space (hence the tag line “The Largest Store in the World!”). Over the years the store has had many renovations, but they have been done within the constrictions of merging two early 1900’s buildings, 1902 design and construction. And while many of their handsome pre-war details are now gone, one historic feature remains.
At the request of historians and shoppers alike, Macy’s, after replacing some of the wooden escalators with more modern ones (to match the new modern decor on the main floor), agreed to restore and maintain the remaining wooden escalators. You will find the original wooden ones on the upper floors throughout the store. Most mobility users cannot ride them, but if you like history, do make a note of their sound and craftsmanship. Engineered by the Otis Elevator Co. in the 1920’s specifically for the store, they are a reminder of our once leadership in the world of innovation more than 100 years ago.
Historic Wooden Escalators Remain
Let the fun begin.
To enter the store there are three doors marked Accessible (one on each of the three windowed sides of the building) with buttons to push to open, however, currently only the Seventh Avenue doors work. Enterting from either the Broadway side or mid-block on West 34th requires someone to help you. If security sees you, they come right away, otherwise you are at the mercy of others entering or exiting.
Shopping the ground floor—the first floor has three levels, which the walking person transitions using stairs. But people using mobility devices need to know how to find the cleverly hidden ramps.
Ramps along the north side of the building.
The ramps run along the north wall of the building. Entering from the Broadway side, you’ll find the first one just past the Swarovski Jewelry display. It is to the right of the stairs, (there is a small sign on the wall), which takes you down to Jewelry and Watches. A second ramp can be found, again on the right, as you head toward Sunglasses. On that level you are in the Seventh Avenue side of the building in Menswear. The elevators here will take you to all areas upstairs—including the mezzanine on floor 1.5 and Santa’s Village on 8.
To reach the Broadway side of the building from Seventh Avenue, you’ll do the reverse. From Seventh Avenue, head toward the eleavtors and you will see the ramp on the left near Sunglasses. The second ramp is to the left of Effy Jewelry on the next level.
Elevator bank on 1st floor, Broadway side, Macy’s
Restrooms:
Entering from the Broadway side, elevators off to the right, (hidden behind handbags) take you to all floors. Right now that area has been wallpapered with a Toys R Us promotion. Take any of these elevators to the lower level to reach the best accessible restrooms in the store and at present, one restaurant.
Renovated Women’s and Gender Neutral Restrooms Lower Level
You can ride any mobility device into the handicapped stall if needed. Sinks and countertops are also easily reached. The day I visited the restroom was clean and well-light and I could move around comfortably.
Just outside the women’s restroom is a Gender-Neutral bathroom, which is handicapped equipped and also very spacious. There are no accessible restrooms for men on the lower level at present so the Gender-Neutral is your only option there.
Back upstairs on the 7th floor in the Children’s department, there is another women’s restroom, BUT it is NOT large enough for any mobility device. There is a wide hallway just outside the Women’s Restroom where you could park a scooter or wheelchair, but then you would have to walk in and once inside there is only one small stall outfitted with handlebars. I tried to drive my scooter to the handicapped stall and literally got claustrophobic doing it. I had to back my scooter out; couldn’t even turn it around.
Just outside the Plus-size Department on the 7th floor you will find a Men’s Room and from what I could see, it appears large enough to take a mobility device inside.
Restrooms can be found on other floors but as of this writing, I have not checked them to know their true accessibility.
Santa Land and au bon pain are behind me here on the 8th floor.
Restaurants:
Lower Level:
Rowlands—large enough to use a mobility device.
Mezzanine:
Starbucks—can be reached by using the elevators on the Seventh Avenue side of the store. Get off at floor 1.5 and use the ramp just past the elevator on the left to enter the Mezzanine.
3rd Floor:
NYC Pizza as of this writing I have not checked this restaurant for accessibility.
4th floor:
Just Salad—easily accommodates a mobility device.
6th Floor:
Stella 34 as of this writing I have not checked this restaurant for accessibility.
7th Floor:
McDonald’s is in the Children’s Department. Whenever I’ve been in Macy’s it’s always busy at McDonald’s. Seating is tight and there are only a few places where you could park a mobility device and eat at the table.
Auntie Annes Pretzels and Carvel are located near the Women’s Plus Sizes department. There you can park a scooter, wheelchair or rollator comfortably.
8th Floor:
au bon pain—just across from Santa Land. This restaurant is spacious and easily accommodates a mobility device.
Please note:
During the holidays all of these eateries are going to be very crowded and not so easily accessible. However, there is quite a variety of food options outside the store on Seventh Avenue going north and south including Irish pubs, specialty coffee shops, salad and juice bars and diners. While they will be crowded, you will be able to use your scooter or mobility device in most of them. As time permits I will add where you might find outlets to recharge your batteries if needed.
The View from Starbucks on the Mezzanine Level.
No matter when you visit Macy’s there is something for every taste, need, and desire spread over 11 floors. It took years for me to figure it out without getting lost.
Sugar Land on the Mezzanine Level
Floor after floor of beautifully displayed clothing, jewelry, housewares, specialty foods, furniture etc. in all price points. For many of us Macy’s is still our most trusted resource for our more important purchases.
At the holidays it will be a sea of humanity, but it is absolutely worth visiting to shop this awesome treasure chest and enjoy its visual delights!
151 West 34th Street, New York
Hours:
10 AM to 9 PM except for the holidays. Check site for holiday hours.
How to Get There:
Subway—Nos. 1, 2, 3 trains stop at 34th Street and there are elevators on all platforms. To exit the station go downstairs and through the gate, then turn right. Make another right just past the ticket machines. You will see escalators straight ahead. There is an elevator hidden to the side on the left. That elevator brings you out to West 34th Street at 7th Avenue. Macy’s is across the street.
A, C, E line along 8th Avenue has elevators to enter and exit the station.
On the Broadway side of the building:
B,D,F,M and the N,Q,R,W trains stop at 34th. I do not use this station very often so I cannot speak to the easy access, but I do know there are ramps and elevators for each of these lines to get you above ground. I will put this stop on my list to visit shortly.
Buses:
Any M bus that goes down Fifth Avenue stops either at 35th or 33rd Streets. At that point you can ride over one block or take the Crosstown 34th to Broadway.
6th Avenue—Nos. M5, M7, & M55
7th Avenue—M20 heading south
8th Avenue—M20 heading north