Articles about Shopping
Programming Note: Valentine’s Day Tips With D Magazine’s Raya Ramsey on WFAA’s Daybreak
ShopTalk’s own Raya Ramsey will be on WFAA (Channel 8 ) tomorrow morning at 6:20 a.m. to talk about proper planning for Valentine’s Day.
Too tired to get up and watch at that time? Don’t have a DVR, or even a VCR? Get a preview of what she’ll be talking about right here.
Randy Travis: Common Bat or Buffy Vampire?
Randy Travis is the guy in the middle, in case you didn't know.
Reuse Jeans sent out an email today to share pictures from the Jan. 21 grand opening of its new store at the Shops at Park Lane. In the email, they were sure to note how grateful they were that country singer Randy Travis had been able to stop by (see photo above.)
This new photo, and Mr. Travis’ recent Denton County Sheriff’s Department mugshot, have sparked an intra-office disagreement.
Settle the argument: Does he look more like a vampire bat or a vampire from the TV shows Buffy and Angel?
Plano’s J.C. Penney Gets a Makeover: New Logo, Ellen DeGeneres, and Apple-Style Genius Bars?
The new logo. Kind of makes you want to put your hand over your heart and pledge allegiance, no?
When Joseph Guinto wrote about Ron Johnson, the new CEO of Plano-based J.C. Penney, in the September issue of D CEO, he raised a number of questions about what the former Apple and Target executive could do for the department store. On Johnson’s branding expertise:
If an executive from Apple is supposed to know anything, it is what the kids (under 35 counts, right?) want these days. And, anyone at Apple—where products launch with a similar look, feel, and level of hype—should have a solid understanding of branding. But Apple products cost a lot of money. The average price for a women’s blouse at J.C. Penney is $15. And, besides, is it fair to compare a shiny iPod to a pair of cotton underpants?
Well, J.C. Penney unveiled its big makeover plan this week, and it would seem that cotton underpants may be getting something closer to the iPod treatment. Stores will begin sporting a new logo (above), the company’s third in three years.
They’ve also unveiled new three-tiered, simplified pricing that they’re calling “Fair and Square Pricing,” which is meant to be represented by that subtly patriotic new logo. Ellen DeGeneres has been brought in as a spokesperson to “help bring the new jcpenney experience to life in her own fun-loving, sneaker-wearing, laugh-making way.”
But most remarkable of all? Johnson, the man behind the creation of Apple’s retail cathedrals hipster havens orgasmatrons shops is bringing some of that same philosophy to transform the staid department store design:
Are Gangs of Thugs Taking Over NorthPark Center?
No. Absolutely not.
But there have been some scary emails circulated claiming something like that, and one about a violent incident at the mall last week appears to have some bit of truth to it. Park Cities People has more details.
Neiman Marcus Sued Over $1.50 ATM Fee
According to the Southeast Texas Record, Marilyn Frey has sued Neiman Marcus for charging her a $1.50 ATM terminal fee at its store in Plano when there was no notice regarding the fee posted.
D Magazine’s Raya Ramsey Talks Giving Back For the Holidays on WFAA’s Daybreak
Our very own online lifestyle editor, Raya Ramsey, acquitted herself nicely this morning on WFAA’s morning show, Daybreak. But that dastardly host Ron Corning cut her off before she could plug our website featuring even more ways to celebrate the holidays: www.dmagazine.com/events
She’ll get you next time, Corning.
Faux Town Squares: Do ‘Suburban Lifestyle Centers’ Create an Authentic ‘Sense of Place?’
Is Southlake Town Square the exception or the rule?
Long-suffering Denton residents have heard this before. Golden Triangle Mall has new ownership. The long-troubled shopping center is going to get yet another renovation. This time the city of Denton itself had to kick in $9.5 million to make it happen.
The news reminded me of something that came up during my recent breakfast with Ray Washburne, he of the MCrowd Restaurants and owner of Highland Park Village. We mostly talked about all the changes coming to the Village, but something that didn’t make it into the published article were his comments about Denton.
MCrowd had a deal in place to put a Mi Cocina location into the Rayzor Ranch development in Denton, but with that planned mixed-use project having slowed down due to economic factors, it hasn’t happened. “It was going to be the classic suburban lifestyle center,” Washburne said. “As a college town, I think a small Mi Cocina or Taco Diner would do well up there.” Then he added:
“Denton doesn’t have a sense of place. That’s what these lifestyle centers have done — like up in Allen — is create a sense of place.”
Obviously, I disagree. (more…)
Neiman Marcus Revamps The Book
I’d heard a rumor that Neiman Marcus was working on a new editorial print product. Turns out to be sorta true (but not really). Neiman’s spokesperson Ginger Reeder says they have decided to cease publication of Entree, the magazine that went to InCircle members. Reeder says the same sort of editorial that ran in that magazine will be rolled into The Book, along with outside advertising. New editorial product? Let’s call it revamped. (Bonus: here’s some cool behind-the-scenes footage of a photo shoot in Bandon, Oregon, for the fall 2011 Book.)
The Three Coolest Items for Sale at Good Records, the Best Record Store in Dallas
Chris Penn models the 3D glasses that come with Brightblack Morning Light's album.
I’ve been going to Good Records for some time now, though I wouldn’t call myself an expert on the store. Given its recognition as the Best Record Store in Dallas, I thought it was time to go straight to the expert—co-owner Chris Penn—to hear about the coolest (and weirdest) records in its inventory. I had dreamed of being shown an ancient, long-lost copy of The Beatles’ Carnival of Light, but what I found instead was a little less dusty and stained. Not that I should have been surprised: Good Records is, after all, a store that predominately sells new vinyl and CDs. Used music is bought and sold, but until Sir Paul walks into the store and hands over his copy of Carnival, I guess I’ll just have to wait. Until then, it’s 3-D and scratch-and-sniff vinyl, “nothing too too out of the ordinary.” Right, Chris.
Valley View Mall Kind of In the Way of Fancy New 635
Interesting story in the Dallas Morning News today about the fate of the languishing Valley View Mall, and the fact that the new five year expansion project for LBJ will probably mean the mall is razed to make better use of the property.
With the Galleria and NorthPark Center doing a much better job of keeping up with what draws shoppers to malls, Valley View began slowly emptying of stores. Foleys became Macy’s, who shut down that location in favor of better real estate with more shoppers. Then Dillard’s left. Just the other day, several of us were talking about the last time we were in Valley View. For me, it was more than a year ago. Another person said she hadn’t stepped foot in the mall since the Dillard’s clearance sales when it closed. Another goes more frequently – but just to the AMC movie theater. As it stands, there are only two anchor stores – JC Penney and Sears – left, along with a smattering of small stores, a small food court and the aforementioned movie theater.
Things have flatlined so badly for the mall that its owner, Macerich Co., chose not to continue paying on a $125 million note a year ago, handing the mall over to its creditors instead.
Nickelson Wooster Out as Neiman Marcus Men’s Fashion Director
Since I noted his hiring, I feel obligated to post that Fashionista is reporting Nickelson Wooster, the mustachioed, heavily tattooed men’s fashion director for Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman is out.
Fashionista is most concerned about the fate of the Tumblr devoted to him.
Vote Now in the Best of Big D Readers’ Choice: Services Poll. Once an Hour Through May 29.
I told you, on Friday, what to expect.
Now’s your chance to live the dream.
VOTE.
Only you can determine who takes the title of “Best of Big D” and appears in the August 2011 issue of D Magazine.
Denton’s Golden Triangle: Tear Down This Mall
Growing up at the top of what only Denton civic boosters ever call the “Golden Triangle” (of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton), I have a longstanding relationship with “the mall” in my hometown. As NBC 5 reported last night, private companies are looking to the city for help in resurrecting the place.
Though I have fond childhood memories of sipping free samples at Orange Julius, getting a little thrill from browsing the naughtier items at Spencer’s, and running back and forth between the two (!) bookstores that were then in operation to determine which would give me a better deal on the latest Xanth-series paperback, I remain keenly aware of one fact: Golden Triangle was, and has always been, an awful mall. Ugly and dark inside, poor selection of shops to browse, few food options.
So when I watch the NBC 5 video (more…)
Last Days to Vote in Best of Big D: Shopping Poll. Once an Hour Through Sunday.
This is it, folks. Time to put up or shut up. We’ve come to the home stretch in our Best of Big D: Shopping poll, where were are deciding such important questions as: what’s the best furniture store in town? the best clothing store? the best comic book store? the best gift shop?
These are not trivial matters. Great songs will be written about the triumph of the winners. Honors shall be bestowed upon them, their children, and their children’s children. (But not their ne’er-do-well great-grandchildren.)
Most importantly (and truthfully), the winners will be recognized in the August 2011 issue of D Magazine. So vote now, and up to once an hour, through the last minutes of Sunday.
Vote Once an Hour in the Best of Big D Readers’ Choice: Shopping Poll
It’s time to get voting on all the best places to shop in and around Dallas.
The winners — your winners — will be recognized in the August 2011 issue of D Magazine.
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