End of an Era

Shopping is a woman thing.  It’s a contact sport like football.  Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase.  ~Erma Bombeck, American humorist and writer

Last week we learned one of our mall’s major department stores was closing its doors for good.

In retrospect, we should have seen this coming. After all, for at least the last five years, this store has been riding the Struggle Bus:

“Fashionable” clothing isn’t too popular in staid Central Illinois
Animal prints and dull colors don’t go over well here either
Buyers don’t understand “petite” also includes tiny great-grandmas
Overseas seamstresses can’t seem to cut clothing for Midwest bodies
Materials have become flimsy and “cheap”
Prices are high in a challenged economy

I don’t work in retail. Never have, actually. But I like to shop — don’t most women? — and there are certain stores I find myself patronizing regularly.

This was one of them.

When you work for yourself … in a tech field, no less … you pretty much get to choose your favorite look.

Mine is casual. Classic.

No frills, ruffles, high heels. No dresses either.

Still, occasions demand I have some “fancy” clothes in my closet, just in case.

And this store was a good place to find everything from business suits and dresses to Polo shirts and jeans.

I’ll miss it.

I spent Saturday trying to score a Going-Out-Of-Business bargain, but I came away sorely disappointed.

Gauging by the scarcity of shopping bags exiting the store, others felt the same.

Items that were 40 percent off last week were now only 10 percent off.

Wow.

And the liquidators have some hard and fast rules — no store cards, only cash or bank cards, and all sales are final.

Gee, it seems like they’re still riding that Struggle Bus!