Macy’s Backstage

This place was a huge disappointment! It’s dark and dreary inside, with gray floors like you’re in a cellar. The clothes were not top quality and looked picked-​through, as if you’re in a second-​hand store. It didn’t live up to Macy’s standards at all, and I bought nothing. Half the shelves in the home goods area were empty, and some items had no prices. Scarves and hats were in too many separate areas and not together. Jewelry and shoe selection is sparse. Sorry Macy’s, but I’m not going back.

First visit to Essex Green in eons. This store looks to be similar in overall concept to Nordstrom Rack. Designer clothing, mostly, at discounted pricing. A very modest collection of home goods as well as jewelry and makeup
Perhaps trying to find a place in the traditional retail market left by the demise of stores like Loehmann’s, Daffy Dan’s and Syms?
The overall aesthetics of the store aren’t of much concern to me as long as the place is clean and well-​organized, and this store met that criteria. The Unilocalers whining about same are missing the point of what an off-​price retailer is trying to do.
Much of what we saw looked to be from last season but the prices seemed (mostly) sharp for this kind of stuff. Personally, I find so much of the designer market to be replete with poor quality clothing and accessories and I continue to marvel at how much brands like Michael Kors (et al.) are able to command such grotesquely inflated margins for such inferior products — even when discounted by 50% or more!
Anyway, more traditional retail is a good thing. Whether or not this concept can fly is an open question. My guess is that the Macy’s cachet simply doesn’t work as it does for Nordstrom so I don’t expect this store to have a long shelf life.

I checked out this new location on the day after Christmas after hitting other off price stores. It has similar interior to the Nordstrom Rack in Paramus. I’m not quite sure what the other reviewers were expecting, but it is in fact a Macy’s Backstage-​NOT a Macy’s as we know it. It has similar product to a TJ Maxx/​Marshalls as they all carry off price department store goods. We got amazing deals with their BOGO offer. There was a great Mens selection-​outerwear was spot on. The home and accessories departments needed more stock. The shoe department could use more light but was no more a mess than any other store of its kind. I found the staff to be super friendly and helpful. There were some great brands in women’s (Hudson jeans and the like).
I went in expecting off price… expecting Macy’s brands… and expecting a good deal. This absolutely met my expectations.

Well, what can be said about the WO backstage? Not much good I’m afraid. Before visiting here I read all about Backstage and how Macy’s was trying to attract millennial and younger bargain conscious shoppers. Think century 21. Well, this ain’t no C21. This is unmistakably Macy’s. Very low end selection of Macy’s clothes and brands. Very few high end clothing selections — They must not have gotten the memo on how to run this type of business. The key here is to throw in some awesome finds and rare, unique, local or high end brands amongst the junk. This Backstage is almost completely full of the junk. It also feels like a Macy’s, right down to the smell, cheesy overly loud music, outdated décor, etc.
And one more thing. I was sure that this was a Macy’s from the moment I walked in because the ever so friendly loos prevention folks followed my wife and I all over the store. When LP wasn’t within eyesight, it was a Macy’s employee, coincidentally needing to restock or shuffle the racks in our immediate vicinity. It felt just like being at the 34^th st store as a 16 year old again! Certainly no way to treat customers especially given the settlement with NYAG over similar issues. But I digress…
Highlights: A few good deals to be found, Bloomingdale’s house brand, sunglasses, convenient location off 280.
Lowlights: Atmosphere, selection, antiquitated loss prevention strategy. Store seems geared towards older shoppers and not the millennial folks Backstage purports to attract.

Macy’s Backstage on the outside, but a smaller version of Ross and/​or Marshall’s-like store inside. The inside really is «dull» and boring – the lighting is not that bright; it’s almost like being in a basement. The place is still clean and relatively organized for now, which is nice. A few items here are on sale, but certainly not everything.
Selection wise, I’ll pass. It’s essentially the same old, limited selection from the old store but a little more condensed. I didn’t bother to look through the men’s clothing section, but the shoes available aren’t that appealing; sizes 10 and 10.5 have the most shoes to choose from. Size 12+ (my size) had merely two or three racks with the same exact selection. There’s a ‘home’ section, which has a number of wall decors, kitchen gadgets, ‘paintings’, and a few appliances. The front of the store has a long rack of (headphones, earphones, 60oz flasks, etc., along with a small set up of Christmas decorations.
The only section that I liked was probably where the sunglasses were. There were Oakley’s, Maui Jim, Rayban’s, a few A|X frames, and some other brands I’m not too familiar with. Overall, this place is alright if you’re looking for common things. However, I would stick with the malls if I need to do some major shopping.

Not impressed. If this location is done it doesn’t feel like it. The outside sign is nice and looks inviting but get inside and its dull grey everything and signage that looks like it was created in 1989. Extremely poor lighting. No point at looking at the shoes, isles are so dark you can’t see anything. Clothing racks overpacked so it’s difficult to flip through and find anything. The racks that weren’t packed were full of unattractive options. Not sure who the buyers are targeting. Horrible clothing and shoe selection. I felt like I was at a really bad version of Marshall or TJ Max with even worse music. In fact they have some of the same kitchenware I’ve seen at TJ Max! I’m sure I could have found some accessories or trinkets to buy but I felt like I’ve seen it all before and just really wanted to get out of there. Felt like I was at poorly lit goodwill. So disappointing.