The magic is gone

Macy’s announced today that it will close 11 stores, including one in Brooklyn Center at the Brookdale Mall, which is fast becoming an economic basket case.

The store, of course, is a former Dayton’s, a store that every company once wanted in their mall — the name was that magical. The magic is gone.

Is it too early to start thinking about what St. Paul will do when Macy’s closes its downtown St. Paul store?

Taxpayers guaranteed a $6.3 million loan for renovations to the store in 2001. The loan would be forgiven if the store stays open until December 2012. One gets the impression that Macy’s executives fall asleep at night to dreams that it’s almost January 2013.