Macy’s, Inc. said Friday that it will close nine underperforming Macy’s stores. They are:

* Washington Square, Indianapolis, Ind. (152,000 square feet; 90 employees; opened in 1974);
* Prien Lake Mall, Lake Charles, La. (116,000 square feet; 75 employees; opened in 2003);
* Rolling Acres Mall, Akron, Ohio (103,000 square feet; 84 employees; opened in 1978);
* Canton Centre, Canton, Ohio (120,000 square feet; 76 employees; opened in 1968);
* Randall Park Mall, North Randall, Ohio (184,000 square feet; 91 employees; opened in 1976); 
* Crossroads Mall, Oklahoma City, Okla. (153,000 square feet; 84 employees; opened in 1986);
* Valley View Center, Dallas (300,000 square feet; 132 employees; opened in 1973);
* Sharpstown Center, Houston (308,000 square feet; 172 employees; opened in 1961);
* Family Center at Riverdale, Riverdale, Utah (140,000 square feet; 95 employees; opened in 2003).

Final clearance sales at these stores will begin on varying schedules within the next several weeks, Macy’s said in a statement.

“While the decision to close stores is difficult, it is necessary that we do so selectively in locations with declining sales and where we have been unable to identify sufficient growth opportunities,” said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “At the same time, we continue to open new Macy’s store locations in communities where we believe we can operate successfully.”

The company said it opened 10 new stores and one furniture gallery in 2007. In 2008, it expects to open five stores, with an additional six to eight new locations planned for 2009.

Associates displaced by store closings will be offered positions in nearby stores where possible, the company said. Associates who are laid off in this process will be provided severance benefits and outplacement assistance.

Macy’s, Inc., formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, operates more than 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. Its 2006 sales totaled $27 billion. The company also operates macys.com, bloomingdales.com, and Bloomingdale’s By Mail.

JCK