Macy’s to close Belmont store, five others across US

By Callum Borchers, Globe Staff

Macy’s Inc. said Thursday it plans to close its Belmont store, along with five others, laying off 101 local workers. The Belmont store opened in 1978 as a Filene’s and became a Macy’s in 2006, when Macy’s Inc. bought May Department Stores, Filene’s parent company.

The other stores being shuttered include the Bloomingdale’s Fashion Home Store in Las Vegas and Macy’s locations in Pasadena, Calif.; Honolulu, Hawaii; St. Paul, Minn.; and Houston. A total of 634 workers will be laid off, though the Cincinnati-based company said some may be offered positions at other stores.

“We remain committed to operating a successful and growing stores business as part of our company’s Omnichannel strategy for serving customers wherever, whenever and however they prefer to shop,” said Karen M. Hoguet, Macy’s chief financial officer. “This leads us to open new stores where we see the opportunity to fill gaps in important markets, as well as to make the tough decision to selectively close underperforming stores that no longer meet our performance requirements or where leases are not being renewed.”

Clearance sales at the closing stores will begin the week of Jan. 6 and last between seven and 11 weeks. The stores will close early in the spring.