Macy’s, one of the few mass department stores left, has announced that it will be closing 11 of its stores. At first, I was a bit alarmed until I read more about it. Turns out that they are closing the stores that are “under-performing”– in layman’s terms, stores that aren’t making any money.

What makes my stomach hurt about this is that MORE people are going to be laid off– almost 1,000 people will now be unemployed.  I can’t tell you how many people I know who are looking and can’t find jobs. Man, we are truly in a recession!

Here are the stores that will be closing:

• Ernst & Young Plaza (Citicorp Plaza), Los Angeles (135,000 square feet; 136 employees; opened in 1986).

• The Citadel, Colorado Springs, Colo. (195,000 square feet; 105 employees; opened in 1984).

• Westminster Mall, Westminster, Colo. (156,000 square feet; 110 employees; opened in 1986).

• Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach, Fla. (190,000 square feet; 71 employees; opened in 1979).

• Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Island of Hawaii (3,000 square feet; three employees; opened in 1983).

• Lafayette Square, Indianapolis (160,000 square feet; 84 employees; opened in 1974).

• Brookdale Center, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (195,000 square feet; 72 employees; opened in 1966).

• Crestwood Mall, St. Louis (166,000 square feet; 176 employees; opened in 1969).

• Natrona Heights Plaza, Natrona Heights, Pa. (73,000 square feet; 124 employees; opened in 1956).

• Century III Furniture and Clearance, West Mifflin, Pa. (83,000 square feet; three employees; opened in 2000).

• Bellevue Center, Nashville, Tenn. (211,000 square feet; 76 employees; opened in 1990).

What a beginning to a new year, hunh?

FWO: Forwomenonline.com