In what could become a growing trend nationwide as retailers cut costs, Macy's is looking to trim its store hours in downtown St. Paul.

The retailer needs the approval of the City Council to change skyway hours so that they would coincide with store hours, but Macy's hopes to close the St. Paul store an hour earlier each day beginning Feb. 1. If approved, the new hours would be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

"It's definitely a cost-cutting move," said Stan Pohmer, a Twin Cities retail consultant. "When you multiply the number of bodies working in the store times the hourly wage rate, and then look at sales achieved in that time slot, it's been a lost proposition for them."

The St. Paul location at 4th and Cedar Streets has been an underperformer for years. City officials have been keen to keep it strong, because it is the only major shopping outlet in downtown and brings jobs and consumers to the city core.

In 2000, taxpayers floated a $6.3 million loan for renovations and upgrades that would be forgiven if Macy's stayed through Dec. 31, 2012. If the retailer leaves before then, it would have to repay the loan plus a $630,000 penalty for every December the store is dark through 2012.

The deepening recession has renewed fears in St. Paul that the Cincinnati-based chain could turn out the lights anyway, and join an estimated 73,000 other stores that the International Council of Shopping Centers predicts could close across the nation in the first half of next year.

Macy's spokeswoman Natalie Bushaw said Tuesday that the company has no plans to close the St. Paul store.

The retailer is looking to making changes at the St. Paul location "to make sure we're open at times to meet the needs of our customers," Bushaw said.

"They're our priority."

JACKIE CROSBY