PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Macy’s in Center City officially closed its doors for good Sunday evening. Hundreds of people popped by the historic Wanamaker building to say goodbye to the department store and its iconic features.
The Center City Macy’s opened in 2006. In January, the company announced the store was one of 66 being shuttered.
Most products were already stripped from the shelves, as everything must go — everything.
Thomas Kiley, from New York, took something Macy’s usually doesn’t sell. As the holder of the world’s largest mannequin collection, he had to come down to say goodbye to the site of the 1987 film “Mannequin.”
“I had to come down to get a souvenir, so I grabbed a leg,” he said.
Cara Hulse came with her son to admire some of the city’s finest architecture, and it brought back memories of her own childhood: “I remember my mom bringing us — as I’m 68, I’m not afraid to say — but the most exciting part was the eagle at the entranceway.”
Many people felt the same way. Crowds formed a line waiting to take a picture with the eagle, which is protected on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.
The pipe organ — the world’s largest fully functional musical instrument — will be protected too. The organ was initially built for the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. John Wanamaker purchased it five years later, brought it to Philadelphia, and turned it into what it is today.
A farewell concerto on Saturday marked the final performance of its daily shows, something the department store had done since 1911.
“I come regularly to listen, at least once a week,” said Nora Dougherty. She’s been visiting Macy’s for organ performances for nearly 60 years.
“The end, it’s a little sad,” she said. “It’s a magnificent building, and the only thing we care about is this organ and that it is played and cared for.”
Organ experts say allowing the instrument to exist is simply not enough.
“This organ has been played half an hour twice a day, six days a week for the past 50 years,” said organist David Speck, who traveled from New York for the last concert. He said the organ should continue to play.
“What’s going to happen when this becomes apartments and luxury condos?” he speculated. “Is this going to still be played periodically? Organs have to be played regularly or they will fall into disrepair.”
Officials said the organ will be carefully preserved and protected during any future renovation projects.