Macy's stores in Fresno and Visalia celebrated their grand openings Wednesday, drawing hundreds of people for free $10 gift cards and other giveaways.
The stores opened in former Gottschalks locations at The Shops at River Park and Visalia Mall. Both stores opened quietly last week, but held ribbon cuttings and other festivities today.
Hundreds showed up for the Fresno store opening. In Visalia, Macy's estimated that 800 poured through the doors within 15 minutes. The Golden West High School drum line in Visalia and Clovis' Reyburn Intermediate School marching band in Fresno led crowds into the stores.
Scenes from the grand opening in Visalia
Visalia Mayor Jesus Gamboa welcomed the crowd calling Macy's arrival "a shot in the arm" to the city.
Members of the Golden West High band drum line perform during grand opening ceremonies for the new Visalia Macy's store Thursday at the Visalia Mall.
Hundreds of Macy's shoppers, including Donna Williams, left, who was in line at 5:30 a.m., wait for the grand opening Thursday morning at the Visalia Mall. Williams was among the first 500 customers who each received a $10 gift card.
First in the long line of customers waiting to enter that store was Donna Williams of Visalia, who showed up at 5:30 a.m. for the 10 a.m. opening. She expected a huge crowd and likened the store's opening to Black Friday.
"I wanted to be out here early so I didn't get trampled," she said.
Williams was among the first 500 customers who each received a $10 gift card.
One lucky customer, Lydia Navarro-Irwin of Visalia, won a $1,000 gift certificate.
"And my husband thought I was crazy to come to Macy's so early," said Navarro-Irwin, who took a day off from work to be at the opening. "It was well worth it."
In Fresno, Tracy Alcorn echoed the sentiments of many other customers living in north Fresno.
"I'm very happy to hear that I don't have to drive all the way to Fashion Fair to go to Macy's," she said.
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