May Co. Store in MainPlace Mall Will Remain Open

May Department Stores officials have shelved plans to close the May Co. store in MainPlace/Santa Ana mall, a decision greeted with relief by May Co. employees and some of the mall’s other businesses.

Officials announced last month that 12 May Co. and Robinson’s stores, including the May Co. in MainPlace, would be closed as part of a regional consolidation plan. The closure had MainPlace executives and store owners worried that business would decline.

The St. Louis-based parent company of California May Co. and Robinson’s predicted the consolidation plan would save $15 million a year.

Janet Hausrath, general manager for May Co. at MainPlace, said management notified her store’s employees three weeks ago of the decision to keep the store open.

“They were thrilled,” Hausrath said.

The consolidation also calls for merging and renaming all the Southland stores Robinsons-May beginning in February. Hausrath said that both May Co. and Robinson’s in MainPlace will have the same name.