Nordstrom
Nordstrom in Phipps Plaza. Surrounded by million dollar homes and cookie cutter condos that say “I’ve made it to the top by doing what I’m told”, this is the preferred mall of the privileged class. The sweat pants, flip flops, and the “I could care less if anybody sees me today” attitude of rural Wal-Mart has been replaced with Gucci, Prada, and “Look at me everyone, I still look skinny the day after Thanksgiving”.
A live pianist played a variety of Christmas carols, with a random rendition of the Charlie Brown theme thrown in for good measure.
Fashionable thirty and forty somethings looked for whatever it is that the kids are into these days (gotta look young) while their pre-teen kids ran off to the food court with their cell phone leashes promising to call in an hour.
The huge signs advertising big savings were nowhere to be found. The browsing consumers looked at the wares ignoring price tags. It was as if they wanted to come out and celebrate the occasion of the day without lowering themselves to the status of “cheap”. I think if someone was here selling “I survived Black Friday” T-shirts, they’d have made a killing. These folks just wanted to be able to say that they were out today doing the thing to do. It’s not so much Black Friday here at Phipps Plaza. It’s just the place to be.
The only thing that separated this day from any other shopping day seemed to be the big crowds and the short lines at the registers. Few were buying, everyone was looking.
