Sadly, the economy is claiming another Charlotte retail fatality.
The luxe Bob Ellis Shoes in SouthPark mall will close, says store manager Joel Prystowsky. Employees began telling customers late last week. The King Street location in Charleston will remain open.
Christian Louboutin Charme Black suede ankle boot
Bob Ellis has been in Charlotte for more than 11 years, opening first inside Coplon's Phillips Place space, then moving to a spot near Nordstrom inside SouthPark about five years ago.
It is a chic spot to find some of the most fab footwear: Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent are just a few of the lines in the store.
The decision to close was made by owner Barry Kalinsky, Prystowsky says, and came as a surprise to employees.
The timeline for closure (and clearance markdowns) has yet to be determined, he says.
It is a chic spot to find some of the most fab footwear: Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent are just a few of the lines in the store.
The decision to close was made by owner Barry Kalinsky, Prystowsky says, and came as a surprise to employees.
The timeline for closure (and clearance markdowns) has yet to be determined, he says.
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So that's why everybody was frowning when I walked by the store last Saturday. I just thought they were being snooty. Still doesn't explain why all the women in the St. John store look so stuck up. They looked that way long before the economy was bad.
ReplyDeleteEven purchases of $500 shoes are no longer a priority in this economy. I feel sorry for the employees who will be losing thier jobs.
ReplyDeleteWell, at 85 years old and born and raised in a mill town, I never went much for "fab footwear" but I sure do hate to see a dream die.
ReplyDeleteman i gotta give you a hand if you're really 85 and can leave comments on the message board. God Bless
ReplyDeleteOh well. It'll get replaced by a Gucci store or something.
ReplyDeleteI used to make a special trip to SouthPark to go shopping.
ReplyDeleteBut now that JC Penny has opened in New York City, I no longer need to make trip.
There is a place for fab footwear, but since they opened so did Nieman's so there are more options. Really though, I've been in that store and they really weren't interested in waiting on me. So no surprise, relationships mean a lot. My sin. I came in with my daughter in my casual attire jeans and frye boots. Others came in after and they were prompt to help.
ReplyDeleteTrue Religion is opening a store in SouthPark though...
ReplyDeleteI've been to both the Southpark and Charleston stores several times. The people were great and I am the "normal type". When my son got married the SP store helped me pick out two beautiful pairs of shoes for the occasion. The two men I worked with were wonderful and made me feel I had made just the right decision. I will agree that the Charleston store is more approachable - just the set up...but I will miss the SP store.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was the economy as much as the owner. Have you noticed that they have not had any shoes in that store for months. I have bought lots there but noticed they had empty shelves for a long time. It makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous who said if I was 85 and could comment on the internet, well woopdeedoo for me, I ain't dead yet! In fact, I'm surfin' the high cyberwaves, honey! Look me up. I got a blog on here trixiegoforth.blogspot.com and I'm a big deal on Facebook. And my profile's public so all can enjoy the wonder which is me.
ReplyDelete"I have bought lots there but noticed they had empty shelves for a long time. It makes me sick."
ReplyDeleteIf empty shelves in a retails shop make you physically ill, you need to either get a life or seriously consider re-prioritizing your existing one.
The store most likely had less product than normal because they have been having $$ problems for awhile and couldn't afford to buy more inventory or got cut off from the manufacturer because their credit line dried up.
I'm not surprised. I have been in there on several occassions and they never bothered to wait on me. I must admit that sometimes I dropped in wearing my gym clothes, but that's the only time I had to shop without my kids in tow. Maybe I could have been enticed to buy something, but their sales clerks were never welcoming or friendly. I never felt welcomed so after a while, I stopped going in that store at all. For shoes, I would only hit Nordies, Belk, or Marmi at SP. I hope SP Mall will replace that space with a store that caters to the average shopper like myself.
ReplyDeleteOMG, for a minute there, I thought it was Bob Evans. Whew, had me scared.............$500 shoes ?? My feet only go in custom made shoes.
ReplyDeleteOne of the easiest way to get people to buy is to act like they can not afford the product you are selling.
ReplyDeleteRead On a clear day you can see GM and you will see a lot of tricks and just will see a lot of cars are sold because the salesperson said perhaps you should look at these cars as they are more in your price range.
I love it when sales people try and pull this on my wife and I. I always say I guess you are right I can not afford this. Maybe I need to get a job here so I can drive one for free like you do?
So go into these stores and when they act higher than you ask for an application and then ask what sales people get paid. Then walk out saying how sorry you feel for the sales people only making etc.
This will get them in the helping and not acting mode.
Actually, I thought Bob Ellis was the great Eastern NC BBQ! Or is that Bill Ellis? Oh well, doesn't matter cause I'll buy BBQ anyday over shoes.
ReplyDeleteOh my God y'all. I heard they are gonna replace it with a Vera Bradley store. Y'all, I love my cheap lookin' diaper bags with ugly flowery prints.
ReplyDeleteThey need to replace it with a Gamestop or maybe even a Play n Trade Video Games. It'd give me a reason to even go in SouthPark these days.
ReplyDelete^I don't think your the type of clientele SouthPark is after...
ReplyDeleteH&M needs to open in Charlotte/SouthPark, why is Raleigh getting them first?
ReplyDeleteSnooty is when they are nice to you! What an awful bunch of sales associates. They truly did not want to wait on you unless you were wearing your Jimmy Choo's & carrying Louis Vuitton and were wrapped in your Hermes' scarf. They deserve to be in the un-employment line!
ReplyDelete@Anon 9:17
ReplyDeleteI have a knack for predicting stores that will come to Charlotte. I really think H&M is on it's way very soon. Obviously they're expanding and retail stores tend to expand geographically... it's just a matter of time.
500 bucks for a pair of shoes? They ought to close... Why won't you Southpark people get a real life and realize there are better things to spend money on? Unless you've got that much to burn. I'll stick to a $60 pair I ordered over the net. Bet none of you can tell the difference.
ReplyDelete"I love it when sales people try and pull this on my wife and I. I always say I guess you are right I can not afford this. Maybe I need to get a job here so I can drive one for free like you do?
ReplyDeleteSo go into these stores and when they act higher than you ask for an application and then ask what sales people get paid. Then walk out saying how sorry you feel for the sales people only making etc."
Anonymous, I hope you realize that the top sales rep. at Southparks LV took in 160k last year. At Neiman Marcus, 210k. At Poole shop, 80k. Ralph lauren, 130k. National sales rep rankings are even higher. So good luck with your logic of believing that sales people are a lower class than yourself. We can (and do) make more than you. We're also educated and have enough couth to know that you will continue this argument long after we have left this blog-so don't expect a response-we have money to make. If you are serious about that job though, drop in-we'll be happy to tell you our earnings.