The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Sales manager Janet Faime could have said something monumental when she officially announced that the downtown Lazarus-Macy's store had closed for good.

Instead, she kept it simple.

"Good evening, Lazarus shoppers," she said into the store intercom Saturday. "It is now 5 p.m., and this downtown location is closed. Thanks for your support."

Then she began locking the entrances of the six-story emporium built in 1909 to replace the original store from 1851.

Hours before, when the store opened at 10 a.m., customers lined up outside. Some took pictures.

Clyde and Toni Berry were among the first inside. They said their family's history is tied to the store. Toni Berry's grandmother was an elevator operator, her father worked there part time during college, and she worked at the downtown store in the 1970s.

Only 50 employees stayed for the final day. A similar number transferred to other stores since Federated Department Stores, the parent of Lazarus-Macy's, announced the store would close a year ago.