February 15, 2020

"Shoe Bar, as it’s aptly called, specializes in $17 cocktails with names like Billionaire and Husband Daycare."

"It sells wine by the glass, half a dozen craft beers, and plates of chicken wings and meatballs. And by 4 p.m. most days, it’s packed. 'What better experience is there? It is the most fabulous thing,' said Kathy Miller, 70, of Carefree, Ariz., who recently stopped in for a couple of whiskey sours — and Aquatalia boots.... Across the country, shopping centers, malls and major chains like Nordstrom, Crate & Barrel, Whole Foods and Giant are increasingly allowing — even encouraging — customers to imbibe while they browse.... 'I don’t know why it took us so long to put drinking and shoes together, but it’s a great combination,' chief executive Erik Nordstrom said at the National Retail Federation’s annual conference last month. 'Customers at the bar, drinking — it helps sell things.'"

From "Shopping under the influence/Chardonnay in the shoe department: Retailers are increasingly serving alcohol to woo shoppers, vying to create an experience they can’t get online" (WaPo).

From the comments over there: "Supermarkets should entice shoppers with free weed. Once the munchies hit, they will load up multiple carts of food!"

48 comments:

Charlie said...

$17 cocktails? "What better experience is there?"

Fernandinande said...

Raise yourself up by your shoe bars.

etbass said...

Contributes to the general obesity too, I am guessing.

Shouting Thomas said...

There is no current crisis of democracy in progress.

That's a good thing!

narciso said...

what results from drinking heavily

Ann Althouse said...

Seems like you shouldn't test out new high heels which tipsy.

On the other hand, you might be less sensitive to the uncomfortableness of shoes and feel sexually excited by yourself as a lady in designed-to-look-sexy shoes.

Charlie said...

All you here on the news these days is that our country is in an existential crisis, due to Trump. And then you read an article like this. People have never had it so good! Enjoy!

Tom said...

Next thing we know they’ll be offering handies at the end of massages...

Fernandinande said...

On the other hand, you might be less sensitive to the uncomfortableness of shoes and feel sexually excited by yourself as a lady in designed-to-look-sexy shoes.

That's it, I'm taping over the webcam.

J. Farmer said...

Alcohol-related deaths increasing in the United States

Phil 314 said...

Which is the more risky decision:

-shopping while drinking
-OR-
-shopping for shoes at Nordstroms in midtown Manhattan

Gahrie said...

There was a story out of Colorado about Girl Scout cookies being sold outside of a pot dispensary.

stlcdr said...

Filed under ‘things that don’t go together’.

Francisco D said...

Across the country, shopping centers, malls and major chains like Nordstrom, Crate & Barrel, Whole Foods and Giant are increasingly allowing — even encouraging — customers to imbibe while they browse.... '

I am waiting for the first law suit after a drunk customer crashes their car.

Lucid-Ideas said...

Wow. That is pricey. The most expensive drinks I've had are in Switzerland (routinely go north of $15, more for imports) and UAE (Dubai...you can drink in hotels but everything is imported. Double Makers will run you close to $30-$35). I wouldn't pay that unless forced to by circumstance. There better be gold straws or something!

stlcdr said...

Or, how to get women to buy shoes that are effectively worthless : get them drunk, first.

Ann Althouse said...

"which tipsy"

I mean, while tipsy!

No, I'm not tipsy at 9 in the morning (or at any other time of day, for that matter). Typo-ing on pure coffee. Covfefe.

Mark said...

'What better experience is there?'

Um, NOT getting ripped off by the high prices and NOT being exploited?

J. Farmer said...

First rule of drinking: avoid any place that uses terms like "mixology" or "artisanal."

Second rule of drinking: prefer places that have an 's in the name.

Ambrose said...

Casinos have long known that free drinks to gamblers were a good investment.

Ken B said...

The appeal is the high price. Exclusive ie exclusionary.

Wilbur said...

You'll get nicked for at least $20 for a cocktail in the clubs in South Florida.

Birches said...

I don't think the cultivation of wine mom as an standard American identity is a good thing...

J. Farmer said...

“The appeal is the high price. Exclusive ie exclusionary.”

Exactly right. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with status-seeking. We all do it in our own ways. The problem is when status-seekers start believing their own BS and mistake status-seeking with refined/elevated taste.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Bloomie to install Hillary as VP. Then he can step aside and Hillary is prez without having to run.

btw- If Stone belongs in jail, Hillary does too. Her crimes were far worse.

Jamie said...

My grocery store (a huge HEB in the Houston suburbs) has wine and/or beer tasting stations set up almost every late afternoon. Tiny tastes that they give away, often with a little bite of food. When we first moved here, I found this exciting and almost irresistible - free wine tasting! Now I usually decline unless I'm *actually* interested in what's offered.

And there's a boutique in the Houston Heights called Manready that will serve you a full-sized and very well made old fashioned while you shop - also free, as of the last time I was there a few months ago. THAT I don't pass up. And indeed, with the costs of their goods, being a little bit lit is helpful. (That said, they have some pretty great merchandise.)

Lucien said...

If one is out shopping with one’s significant other it feels downright civilized to be offered a glass of wine or champagne while waiting for her or him to select items, visit changing rooms, etc. One feels more patience, too. Mario’s in downtown Seattle has this routine down, to give an example.

Temujin said...

"The problem is when status-seekers start believing their own BS and mistake status-seeking with refined/elevated taste. J.Farmer nailed it.

That said, there are centuries of empirical proof that alcohol can lead to some very bad decision making. Especially when it comes to key decisions. Just ask my wife.

Ken B said...

You are never tipsy if you drink quickly enough. You go directly to blotto.

Howard said...

Bleached bit bimbo from Brighton Beach has been nipping at the bottle this morning. This post was probably an attractive nuisance

tcrosse said...

Then he can step aside and Hillary is prez without having to run.

Putting H>er on the ticket would be a tip-off, would it not?

Howard said...

Thanks for the article J farmer. It looks like your generation is responsible for much of the increase. I attribute it to your fascination with old school authentic dive bar cocktail extravaganzas.

Let me tell you something kid, you've never been in a dive bar unless you can smell the off-gassing from 50 years of cigarette tar build up.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

tcrosse - It's obvious.

Mark said...

I've been saying for years that women's clothing stores should have a bar where husbands can hang out and watch sports while their wives shop. It's a win/win/win kind of thing.

J. Farmer said...

@Howard:

Let me tell you something kid, you've never been in a dive bar unless you can smell the off-gassing from 50 years of cigarette tar build up.

How about a place where people from a different zip code are considered "foreigners?"

Howard said...

The weird thing about moving to Massachusetts was finding out that you can't buy a bottle of wine in most grocery stores. However when my wife and I were scouting out gyms for her to join each and every one of them had a full bar. Go figure

h said...

Is husband daycare a drink for wives, or for husbands?

Howard said...

That's a good one J former. the last real dive bar that still allow smoking that I was in is called the jury room in Santa Cruz. It was kind of sorta made famous and one of those serial killer shows because Ed Kemper would go in there to talk with cops. Cash only

J. Farmer said...

I used to frequent a watering hole called Rooster's Eastside Lounge in an area of Tampa called Sixmile Creek. Not just cash only; no bills larger than a 20 were accepted.

Gospace said...

Well, food, drink, and activity go together. Went bowling with my son's family in CO. It's been a while. Brightly lit. All kinds of other games around. Lanes rented by the hour, not by the game. I had two glasses of merlot and ordered up mozzarella sticks for the grandkids and artichoke and spinach cheese dip and chips for the adults. And some other food and drink. Had 2 frames left to finish another set of games and not enough time on the clock. My kids had rented the lane (using a groupon deal). I went to the desk and said we had another 2 frames, needed about 10 more minutes. And said I spent $65 on food and drink. They know where the profits come from. He added 15 minutes for us to finish the 10 frames. We used half of them.

A huge difference from the bowling alleys of my adolescence. And, bonus, SMOKE FREE!

Bowling leagues and beer were the revenue stream of alleys once. If you wanted to just bowl, you'd have to find a time when leagues weren't active. Hardly anyone works a 9-5 day today. And most workers aren't even on a fixed shift with the same days off every week. Tough to keep leagues or social organizations going. Any business plan has to figure out how to get customers to spend money. We have a small no frills gym in our small rural town. It's open 24/7/365. One worker, the owner. He's there a few days a week during the day, and randomly at other times when he's using it. You see him, get instructions on how to use the equipment, sign the paperwork, join, and he gives you an electronic key fob. Any time you want to use the equipment, swipe the fob, and walk in and use it. No attendants or "fitness consultants". No wages or payroll expenses. No frills at all. Gym equipment, kept clean and ready for use.

Will Cate said...

High-end shopping + drinking has been a thing in London, like, forever

Andrew said...

Up scale men's clothing shops have been serving alcohol to clientele since at least my high school days. I am the professor's age.

paminwi said...

Have you been grocery shopping in Germany? In a medium sized city my husband and I went grocery shopping with locals. I have never seen so much free beer and wine in my life. My husband had a bit of a buzz by the time we were finished shopping.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

I am waiting for the first law suit after a drunk customer crashes their car.

I don't think the cultivation of wine mom as an standard American identity is a good thing...

Recently a strip-mall indoor playground that I used to take my kids to started serving alcohol. I understand the need for revenue, and God knows we need places to take our kids to in the Texas summers, but I found this to be a poor move in terms of both taste and judgement. I made a comment on their Facebook post announcing the availability of brunch drinks to the effect of "Lemme get this straight: a play space for toddlers whose mothers drove them there is going to start serving alcohol to said mothers who are going to get in their cars and drive said toddlers home afterward? What could possibly go wrong?!"

I was, of course, excoriated in response because Moms need break's too! You have no idea how hard Mom's work at taking care of their babys! Maybe u need a drink or two and then you'd stop being such a bossy bitch!, etc.

Go ahead, ladies, go through life being drunk idiots, and raise retarded children who are addicted to pot and internet porn. Just do me a favor and weave all over the road enough so that I can get away from you before you hit me with your Tahoe.

Lucien said...

Maybe the next step is a strip-mall with real strippers.

ken in tx said...

I received a gift certificate to a barber shop in Austin, TX. The decor was made up to look an 1890s barber shop. There was free box wine, beer, and sodas in the waiting area. The price was about twice what I normally pay for a haircut.

Bunkypotatohead said...

Selling shoes to drunk women?
All sales final, I presume. No returns!

Caligula said...

Alcohol works for casinos, and presumably not by enhancing potential gambler's judgement as to whether it's wise and prudent to wager the rent/mortgage money.

If it works for casinos then why wouldn't it work for stores that sell goods where the value is mostly in the presentation and marketing and not so much in the thing itself? (E.g., what would that $500. handbag sell for in like-new condition if it were in a thrift store, sans branding?)

Casinos are experts in extracting all possible funds from a gambler, until there's just not enough left to bother with. I'd expect there are plenty of methods used to encourage gamblers to start and continue gambling that would be useful in a high-markup retail environment.