Robinsons-May

Robinsons-May

Company type	Division
Industry	Retail
Predecessor	J. W. Robinson's, May Company California
Founded	1993
Defunct	2006
Fate	Merged into Macy's and Bloomingdale's
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California , United States
Area served	Southern California, Arizona, Nevada
Parent	The May Department Stores Company (until 2005), Federated Department Stores (2005–2006)

Robinsons-May was a U.S.-based department store chain formed in 1993 through the unification of J. W. Robinson's and May Company California. With its main office located in Los Angeles, California, the chain operated 45 outlets throughout Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada. As a division of The May Department Stores Company, Robinsons-May ceased to exist as an independent brand after May was acquired by Federated Department Stores in 2005, with its stores transitioning into Bloomingdale's and Macy's locations.

May Company and J.W. Robinson's

The Robinsons-May name originated from the 1993 merger of May Company California and its affiliate, J. W. Robinson's. The May Department Stores Company had taken ownership of Robinson's following its 1986 acquisition of Associated Dry Goods Corp., which had controlled J. W. Robinson's since 1957. May Company California itself was established in 1923 after purchasing A. Hamburger & Sons, a retailer founded in 1881.

Initially, both chains focused on Southern California markets until 1989 when May dissolved its Goldwaters division, redistributing stores in Phoenix and Las Vegas between J. W. Robinson's and May Company California. In 1997, Robinsons-May grew by integrating Tucson locations formerly operated by sister division Foley's, which had roots in Levy's and Sanger-Harris stores. Additional consolidation took place in 2002 involving Portland’s Meier & Frank, which kept its brand identity but merged administrative operations with Robinsons-May at the North Hollywood headquarters.

Transition to Macy's

On August 30, 2005, management of Robinsons-May stores was transferred to Macy's West (while Meier & Frank stores were assigned to Macy's Northwest). Under an agreement with the California State Attorney General, fifteen California outlets were put up for sale; however, Federated retained several locations—including Woodland Hills and Northridge—due to unsatisfactory bids. By 2006, most Robinsons-May sites were rebranded as either Macy's or Bloomingdale's, replacing or supplementing existing stores. Notably, flagship locations at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, and Fashion Valley Mall, San Diego—where Macy's already had a presence—were closed and converted into Bloomingdale’s outlets. Official signage updates occurred on September 9, 2006. In Arizona and the Inland Empire regions, existing Macy’s stores relocated into former Robinsons-May premises.

In 2012, the rights to the Robinsons-May trademark were acquired by Strategic Marks, who continue to hold ownership with possible intentions to relaunch the brand in the future.