Macy’s tells employees it may explore sale of Clearwater call center

CLEARWATER — Macy’s Clearwater call center jobs have shifted to remote work permanently, according to an internal email obtained by by the Tampa Bay Times.

As a result, the retailer told workers in an email it may explore a sale or lease of its building, or portions of it, at 13133 34th Street N.

Macy’s declined to comment on any possible sale but said “we have great talent and important functions in our Clearwater location.”

Call center employees had worked in the office to handle customer service and store credit card calls. Macy’s wrote in its email the office will still be available to other teams as needed. Overall, the retailer told employees that it will continue to have a mix of “virtual and on-site work” as part of its culture beyond the pandemic.

“Considering that we have a much smaller occupancy rate in the building, balanced with the need to house those colleagues who will continue to work on-site, we are looking at options which could include a sale or lease of all or portions of our space. No plans or timing have been confirmed as we are in the early stages of planning. We would only enter into a transaction when the market conditions are right to do so,” Macy’s wrote in the email.

Macy’s reported year-over-year loses of 36 percent last month. Like other retailers forced to close at the start of the pandemic, Macy’s is still working to recoup its losses in what was already a difficult market for traditional department stores.