Stow Macy's will be torn down within the next few weeks

The 1960s-era Macy’s department store building will be torn down, Stow Mayor John Pribonic recently announced.

The iconic structure served as the landmark standalone anchor of the Stow-Kent Shopping Center for 55 years, housing a department store under various owners and names until it closed its doors for good in 2020.

Since then, speculation had been rife about what could move into the abandoned building. But on Nov. 9, Pribonic announced on his personal Facebook page that it will be demolished “within the next month.”

“The owners have explained to us that this building is no longer conducive to contemporary retail area and layout requirements,” he posted. “They have come to the difficult decision to demolish the building.”

As for what will be built in its place on the property, Pribonic posted: “They are currently talking with prospective tenants to which they cannot name at this time to fill this key location in our city.”

The empty building had been linked with various brands in recent months on social media, but none had been confirmed by the city. Pribonic had even said recently that an announcement was imminent.

The costs of essential updates and renovation of the building, which opened in 1965 as O’Neil’s, were estimated to be greater than demolition and a new build. Other names over the decades included the May Company and Kaufmann’s before its final iteration as Macy’s.