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| - I go back and forth on Bella. Sometimes, it's amazing, with real style and interesting clothing. Other times, it's like walking into a high-end golf shop. Like others here, the prices aren't an issue - as Chris N said, if I want cheap, I'll go to Target. Bella's prices aren't out of line with city department stores or boutiques.
What stops me from loving this place and shopping here frequently are two things: 1. the location. It's in the middle of a strip in an ugly area of town with nothing around it. So it's a destination - there's no walking there, or walking around to anything else once I'm there. I am not a "lady who lunches", and my so my time is at a premium. Going there is an effort on my part. If I'm not assured that I'll love the clothing, or I just simply don't have the time to browse through every item, then what ends up happening is that I go downtown to Circles. If Circles doesn't have anything, at least I can head to Aroma, or Jane Addams. Or, conversely, if I don't have much time, but I'm downtown, I can "pop" into Circles for 15 minutes and check out what's new. I used to be able to do some of that when they were at the shoppes of Knollwood, but I can't do either with their new location.
2. I've also noticed, tho I won't swear to it, that because they are a destination shop, the people who go in there all seem to know each other and the sales staff. It's a little "clubby" feeling. I always feel like an interloper because everyone seems to know everyone else.
Again - I've gotten some great clothing here and I will certainly return. Just not as often as I'd like to.
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