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Why is Columbus a shopping wasteland?

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Started 2 years ago by lin
Latest reply from ZHC

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lin

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Nordstrom Rack is in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Not in Columbus.

Ulta has three locations in Cincinnati, three locations in Cleveland and one in Toledo. None in Columbus.

H&M has four locations in Cleveland, one in Cincinnati, one in Toledo and one really small store in Columbus.

Sephora has four stores in Cleveland, one in Cincinnati and one in Columbus.

Cleveland has the only M.A.C. (cosmetics) store in Ohio.

There are two stores in Cleveland that carry Lily Pulitzer clothes, five in Cincy and none in Columbus. Guess that means there are no preppies in this college town!

I wonder why retailers shun the C-Bus? There are tens of thousands of college students and young professionals in this city, why not tap into the market?

n.b. These are just a few stores that I like to shop at that I thought of off the top of my head. I do not claim to know how we compare in other areas like large appliances or car parts, for instance.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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I would like to think that we have fewer of these establishments because we as a city have decided we have better things to do than buy a lot of "stuff" we don't actually need.

But I doubt that is actually the case.

Posted 2 years ago #
cr0m
"Lower" Hilliard
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As long as I stay away from Easton, I'm ok with my shopping choices.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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There's multiple MAC counters, not sure how many Sephora or H&M stores we actually need more than one, Ulta has many superiors here in the form of locally owned shops (although a website that advertises Ed Hardy Haircare Tools on the front page...), I just think you need to get outside your comfort zone and find alternatives to big box retailers.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Core_Models wrote >>
There's multiple MAC counters, not sure how many Sephora or H&M stores we actually need more than one, Ulta has many superiors here in the form of locally owned shops (although a website that advertises Ed Hardy Haircare Tools on the front page...), I just think you need to get outside your comfort zone and find alternatives to big box retailers.

+1

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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So we're a shopping wasteland because we don't have a big off-price store or more make up choices? Our independent shopping is worlds above what Cleveland or Cincinnati (or certainly Toledo if that even needs to be mentioned) have to offer.

Posted 2 years ago #
bjboose
Weinland Park
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I don't know if the lack of a 'Nordstrom Rack' qualifies the city as a shopping wasteland.

Posted 2 years ago #
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
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How many Sephora's can you shop in at once?

And the H&M here is fine for the ladies, but the fellas did kinda get the shaft.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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And Lily Pulitzer isn't really my thing, but if it is yours try forming relationships and talking to stores about a brand you want access to here. Probably 1/4 of what I carry is from customers complaining about something they love not being available here.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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Or you could skip Lily Pulitzer and shop something like Bustown Modern, a much cooler style of vintage redux and local.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nitsud Regnifloh
Valerio Heights
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osulew wrote >>
How many Sephora's can you shop in at once?
And the H&M here is fine for the ladies, but the fellas did kinda get the shaft.

from what i have seen of those mens clothes, those guys prolly wouldnt mind...hehe

Posted 2 years ago #
Moz
Short North
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Tigertree wrote >>
So we're a shopping wasteland because we don't have a big off-price store or more make up choices? Our independent shopping is worlds above what Cleveland or Cincinnati (or certainly Toledo if that even needs to be mentioned) have to offer.

Absolutely. I much prefer to support the entrepreneurial efforts of local retailers than major department stores or chain cosmetics stores. Having moved here from Chicago, I don't miss the "glitz and aura" of shopping on Michigan Avenue. Leave that for the tourists and suburbanites.

Posted 2 years ago #
dru
IV
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i am sure somebody in Cincinnati is griping about their lack of a Filene's Basement (possibly a good reason Nordstrom Rack is not here), someone in Cleveland probably wishes they had a West Elm and a Tiffany & Co, and both would find their shopping status upgraded with a Burberry Store. And well someone in Toledo would probably like all of the above someday.

Posted 2 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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There's often a crapload of in-season Lily P at Filene's Basement 161/Sawmill.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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As far as I know the city has issued the maximum number of "Gobs of Cheap Shit Retail Permits", which may explain the absence of these discounters.

Posted 2 years ago #
aaminian
Short North
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Although I certainly wouldn't call Columbus a "shopping wasteland," I would definitely kill for a Zara and a standalone G-Star, just to name a couple.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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Yeah good luck on that one. Toledo doesn't even have a Zara or G-Star yet.

Posted 2 years ago #
colinpperkins

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Wow. At least there's no judgement here.

As long as I stay away from Easton, I'm ok with my shopping choices.

I just think you need to get outside your comfort zone and find alternatives to big box retailers.

As far as I know the city has issued the maximum number of "Gobs of Cheap Shit Retail Permits", which may explain the absence of these discounters.

I don't know the poster of this discussion & have never been in any of these stores, but some of this comes off pretty elitist - without ever really achieving any kind of useful conversation.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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The problem with getting any of the more fashion forward clothing chains in Columbus is the inventory they'll send. It will inevitably suck because these chains always misread the Columbus market.

I've given up a long time ago on Saks and Nordstrom in Columbus.

Last time I was in Nordstrom I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw the men's clothing collection, which consisted of the same tired ass graphic tee's, Ed Hardy crap and the standard issue True Religion gentleman's denim diaper.

Locally, Tigertree and Milk Bar are the only places that seem to really get men's clothing, which is fine with me. Those chains will never get this market. At least for men.

Posted 2 years ago #
KSquared
Literally Hell
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Colin, I know cr0m, and he just hates crowds. Easton is busy and packed with lots of teenagers from the surrounding area and can be pretty overwhelming at peak times, at least for people like cr0m and me. He's nothing even remotely close to elitist, if you knew him you would know why I'm laughing right now.

Last I checked, making assumptions isn't really useful either.

Edit: I am completely bored with people saying that other people's opinons are "elitist".

Posted 2 years ago #