Macy’s Sues to Block Amazon From Its Longtime Billboard Space

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In the coronary heart of Manhattan, a struggle is brewing involving the aged-faculty division store Macy’s and the e-commerce huge Amazon.

At problem is the higher-visibility billboard up coming to Macy’s flagship retail store in Herald Square. For 60 many years Macy’s has advertised itself on the 2,200-square-foot perch that wraps all around the corner of the setting up, with its star brand outstanding in opposition to a crimson track record through the once-a-year Thanksgiving Working day parade that Macy’s organizes.

Now Macy’s has sued to block Amazon from acquiring that key piece of advertising serious estate.

Final week the retail chain filed a lawsuit in New York State Court versus the billboard’s operator, Kaufman Realty, claiming that the detrimental impression of allowing a “direct competitor” to encourage by itself from a block that has lengthy been associated with Macy’s “would be immeasurable.”

“The damages to Macy’s consumer excellent will, impression, name and manufacturer need to a outstanding online retailer (especially Amazon) market on the billboard are difficult to compute,” Macy’s explained in the grievance.

Amazon and Kaufman did not promptly answer to requests for remark.

In the accommodate, which was reported before by Crain’s New York, Macy’s accused Kaufman of discussing the billboard with Amazon before its lease settlement with Macy’s expired in August. Conditions established in 1963 reduce Kaufman from permitting a Macy’s competitor to market on the billboard, a prohibition that “runs with the land permanently,” according to the grievance.

Macy’s mentioned in a assertion that it “continues to have rights relating to advertisements” at the location, introducing that “we anticipate to know the positive aspects of these legal rights and have asked the court docket to defend them.”