It can say a big “fuck you” to the big-city Urban Outfitters franchises with their condescending employees. It can prove that salespeople can be both nice and have dyed hair/tattoos/neon leggings. It can say, “Despite our hip national status, we are still going to integrate into Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall culture by being hospitable and unpretentious. Also, we are going to maintain our positive reputation in the community by giving a certain local blogger free clothes and/or scarves whenever she asks for them.”
Many sociological questions arise when I contemplate the new Urban Outfitters on the Downtown Mall:
1) By month’s end will all the teenagers in Charlottesville be wearing different versions of the same outfit?
2) Is the new Urban Outfitters a harbinger of the homogenized, corporate culture that will eventually take over downtown?
3) Can I get that in a large?
4) Can I get that in an extra-large? What about an XXL? Do you have that?
5) Is this new store good for the local economy? Specifically, my economy?
6) Does this color look good on me?
7) Can you buy me this?