Era Ends With New Beginning

Perhaps no other store in the Washington area embodied Hecht's more than the one downtown. The chain was founded in 1857 by Samuel Hecht, a Baltimore furniture store owner. The downtown store opened on Seventh street in 1896, not the first but the most prominent Hecht's in the Washington area.

In 1985, it moved to its current $40 million marble-and granite location at Metro Center, helping to lead the East End renaissance.

The store is now Macy's flagship in the Washington area. It houses the chain's only Bobbi Brown cosmetics counter in the region and remains the only department store in downtown Washington.

The remnants of Hecht's have disappeared in spurts over the past year. There was the closing of Hecht's headquarters in Arlington in the spring, which resulted in about 600 layoffs, followed by the shuttering of some stores throughout the region. Over the summer, Macy's merchandise began filling Hecht's shelves, and Macy's signs popped up like dandelions in the front yard.

One sunny morning last month, visual director Andi Woung looked expectantly out of the large glass doors at the Metro Center store onto the corner of 12th and G streets, awaiting a delivery.

"Andi, what are you delivering?" Kinton asked.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Woung responded.

The answer became clear when an 18-wheeler parked at the busy intersection: the Charter Club collection, one of Macy's private label brands. The shipment was a day early.

"We need more deliveries," Kinton said, jokingly. "There's more stuff coming every day."

While Hecht's and other May properties relied on coupons to drive sales, Macy's focus is on fashion. Aisles have been cleared and fixtures upgraded. Mannequins are staged on "runways," and jeans are displayed hung, not folded. Employees in Macy's East division must wear all black, an effort to cultivate a chic image and to make them easy to identify.

During one morning rally at Metro Center, a team manager gave associates a rundown of looks for men from Macy's private labels. There was a black zippered jacket and woven shirt from Alfani for "Jack," the neotraditional customer. Contemporary "Eric" might like the tan suit and rumpled lime green shirt by INC, while traditional "Ken" would go for Charter Club's red button-down shirt and striped suit.

Lori Evans, group sales manager for jewelry at Metro Center who has worked at Hecht's for 28 years, said her merchandise has gotten more expensive. The glass cases now display Gucci watches and diamonds.