R.I.P. C-Mart
Now those boots there might not look like much. They're pretty old and worn. But I love them. Why? Because when I wasn't really making a whole lot of money to support my love for shoes, I found them wandering through C-Mart, a favorite haunt of my sisters and mine for as far back as I can remember.
Whether male or female, you've probably all got one story about your greatest find while shopping. That there is my favorite find. A pair of leather boots from Spain for a mere $10.
It was love at first sight. I don't know exactly how many years I've owned them, but they've traveled all over with me, gotten me through snow storms and more nights out than I can remember. I love them so much, I've had the zipper repaired on each boot at least once so that I could keep wearing them with pants, skirts and whatever struck my fancy at the time.
Fashion on a budget, that was what C-Mart was all about. It was a business that allowed those of us with expensive taste but no bank to fulfill our little wants for little money.
But C-Mart was not for the faint of heart. You had to have patience to tackle the racks of shoes, the row upon rows of clothing, the piles of sweaters and knick knacks crammed inside its walls. But if you were smart, you got to know the wonderful ladies who worked there. They'd tell you when new merchandise was in, where to look for styles they knew you'd love, and when to come back for better markdowns.
I found a beautiful little black dress made in Paris that way. I spent $50 on what was worth hundreds before C-Mart got a hold of it. It was worth every penny. That little number helped remind an ex what he was missing when we crossed paths at a wedding a couple weeks later.
It's disappointing that at a time when we could all use a place that offers us more for less, we wannabe fashionistas will have to search elsewhere to fulfill our style-on-a-budget fix after C-Mart closes tomorrow. What a shame the new owners didn't know what they had before they changed it because we customers knew what a fabulous gem C-Mart already was for so many years.
Anyone out there have a C-Mart find to share? Commiserate with me here.
(photo by me)
Comments
The boots look great! Not wishing to rain on the C-Mart parade, but I never went there (I'm a guy). The 'scribbly-scrabbly' hand-written ads I used to see in the papers screamed "cheap! tackey!" to me. :) But it sounds like it was a great place for the savvy customer.
Years ago, I bought a new, very well-made (in the USA) all wool peacoat at J.C. Penney for $19. I loved that coat--like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree--in part because it was so humble; and I could do anything in it, and never fear the outcome. I have it to this day, though the flannel lining droops beneath the bottom. I'm no seamstress so I pinned the lining up inside. To the casual observer it still looks good, though I rarely wear anymore :(
DD: Terry, I know exactly what you mean. The stuff for men wasn't as great as it was for women. They had nice suits though. As for wear and tear, when the zippers went on each of my boots, I spent $20 on each boot to get them fixed. That's how much I love those boots. The fix cost me more than the boots themselves.
Posted by: Terry | October 17, 2008 3:07 PM