Longtime employee bids farewell to South Coast Plaza Macy’s

When your career is nearly as long as the institution you’re serving, you deserve a retirement party.

Such was the case for Sue Graham, a 47-year Macy’s employee who spent the majority of her career at the 53-year-old South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

A litany of notable names gathered Friday morning to celebrate Graham’s storied career — including Macy’s Chairman/Chief Executive Jeff Gennette, Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley and South Coast Plaza partner Anton Segerstrom.

Graham, a fixture at the shopping center, largely spent the morning hugging and talking to people attending her party at Stonewall Kitchen.

Sue Graham hugs a friend as she waves to other guests during her retirement party at Stonewall Kitchen on Friday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Graham began her career with Bullock’s — a department store chain that was folded into Macy’s in 1995.

She rose through the ranks, eventually becoming president and general manager of the South Coast Plaza Macy’s. She was known for greeting workers every morning with the message, “This is your GM in the a.m. Let’s rock and roll!”

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