The conversion of Greenwood Mall’s Famous Barr to Macy’s, one of many locations in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri that will be renamed by fall 2006, starts in May, according to a recently filed building permit application.

Macy’s Federated has contracted with Brite-Way Sign Co. Inc. to build a new $15,000 Macy’s sign at 2625 Scottsville Road.

Besides the sign, customers will start to notice other subtle changes within the existing Famous Barr store.

&#8220They’ll make changes in the store, nicer changes. … Wider aisles, and make shopping much more comfortable with better dressing rooms, better restrooms,” said Helen Weiss, press contact for Macy’s Midwest division.

&#8220September 9, we will become Macy’s and we will celebrate,” Weiss said.

Even though many are anticipating the new store, local representatives with the mall who are handling the conversion are quiet about the move.

&#8220I can’t comment on anything at this time,” said Jerald Manning, general manager of Famous Barr.

The conversion is part of the merger between New York and Cincinnati-based Federated and St. Louis-based May Department Stores Co., completed in August.

High customer demand for the Macy’s experience was the reasoning behind the change, Terry Lundgren, Federated’s chairman, president and chief executive said last year.

Famous Barr is one of 10 store brands owned by Federated Department Stores that will be converted to Macy’s by the end of the year.

Other department stores that Federated will convert to Macy’s include Filene’s, Foley’s, Kaufmann’s, the Jones Store, LS Ayres, Meier & Frank, Hecht’s, Robinsons-May and Strawbridge’s.

&#8220Customers have told us they want the fashion and affordable luxury they find in Macy’s stores,” Lundgren said in a statement last July.

– For more information, visit www.fds.com.