RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Macy's, seen at its downtown site, is expanding other Oahu stores less than five months after debuting in the state.

Macy’s expanding
at Pearlridge

It plans to convert the
former Shirokiya site into a
teen-oriented clothing store

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By Tim Ruel
truel@starbulletin.com

Macy's is expanding its isle presence and has leased the former Shirokiya space at Pearlridge Center to open a teen-oriented dance-club style clothing store.

The 17,800-square-foot space will boost Macy's presence at Pearlridge -- its second largest Hawaii department store -- to 167,800 square feet. It is expected to open at the end of June. The expansion also will help Macy's to renovate the existing store, the company said.

Macy's bought the former Liberty House in July 2001 and officially took over operations at the end of November.

Many of the 12 department stores the company acquired are smaller than 100,000 square feet, while the average size of a Macy's West store on the mainland ranges from 200,000 to 250,000 square feet.

The teen shop will be called THISIT, pronounced "this is it," a concept Macy's West began adopting in March 2000. At Pearlridge, the design of THISIT will include laser lights, cement floors, pastel light fixtures and exposed ceilings for an "industrial chic" look. The company is not yet sure how many employees it will hire for the expansion.

Macy's is already building a 13,650-square-foot THISIT store at its flagship Ala Moana store. Later this year, Macy's is expected to disclose details of store renovation plans at Ala Moana, which will include a larger Macy's Woman department and expansions of the kid's and men's departments. The company has also moved the cosmetics department at Ala Moana to the store's mall-level entrance.

The company is planning to reveal larger renovation plans at other stores later this year, said Deena Nichols, regional director of stores for Macy's West. Macy's operates 12 department stores in Hawaii and Guam, plus seven resort and specialty shops.

At the Waikiki store, the home section has been removed, while the men's and women's shoe departments have been expanded, and an expanded swimwear department is going into the space that fronts Kalakaua Avenue.