<P> Macy's has conducted the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City since 1924 and has sponsored the city's annual Fourth of July fireworks display since 1976 . Macy's Herald Square is one of the largest department stores in the world . The flagship store covers almost an entire New York City block, features about 1.1 million square feet of retail space, includes additional space for offices and storage, and serves as the endpoint for Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade . The value of Herald Square has been estimated at around $3 billion . </P> <P> In 2015 Macy's was the largest U.S. department store company by retail sales . Macy's was the 15th - largest retailer in the United States for 2014 by revenue . </P> <P> Macy's was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy, who between 1843 and 1855 opened four retail dry goods stores, including the original Macy's store in downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts, established in 1851 to serve the mill industry employees of the area . They all failed, but he learned from his mistakes . Macy moved to New York City in 1858 and established a new store named "R.H. Macy & Co ." on Sixth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, which was far north of where other dry goods stores were at the time . On the company's first day of business on October 28, 1858 sales totaled US $11.08, equal to $306.15 today . From the beginning, Macy's logo has included a star, which comes from a tattoo that Macy got as a teenager when he worked on a Nantucket whaling ship, the Emily Morgan . </P> <P> As the business grew, Macy's expanded into neighboring buildings, opening more and more departments, and used publicity devices such as a store Santa Claus, themed exhibits, and illuminated window displays to draw in customers . It also offered a money back guarantee, although it accepted only cash into the 1950s . The store also produced its own made - to - measure clothing for both men and women, assembled in an on - site factory . </P>

Where was the first macy's store located