Macy’s wants to recapture its glorious past. The author of the Wimpy Kid books wants to rebuild his dilapidated hometown. We just want to listen in. (Part two of a two-part series.)

SOURCES:Mark Cohen • , former professor and director of retail studies at Columbia Business School. Will Coss • , vice president and executive producer of Macy’s Studios. Jeff Kinney • , author, cartoonist, and owner of An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Café. Tony Spring • , chairman and C.E.O. of Macy’s Inc.

RESOURCES: • " Macy’s Discovers Employee Hid Millions in Delivery Expenses • ," by Jordyn Holman and Danielle Kaye ( The New York Times, • 2024). • " NBC Ready to Pay Triple to Gobble Up Thanksgiving Parade Broadcast Rights • ," by Joe Flint ( The Wall Street Journal, • 2024). • " How Macy’s Set Out to Conquer the Department Store Business — and Lost • ," by Daphne Howland ( Retail Dive, • 2022). An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Café • .

EXTRA: • " Can the Macy's Parade Save Macy's? • " series by Freakonomics Radio • (2024).