Filene's Basement, the original one, is closing at the end of the month. Renovations are scheduled for the building, and the Basement will reopen in early 2009. Meanwhile, everything is on sale, 60%-80% off the lowest marked price. Queenee and I went in and scored some great bargains. I got a beautiful Calvin Klein cashmere sweater, originally overpriced at $639, for $43. Queenee is holding a perfume she has wanted forever, but couldn't afford - she ended up getting about $2000 worth for less than $100. Unreal bargains to be had.
The first floor is now on the street level, which used to be the first floor of Filene's. As always, nothing is organized by size, it's a bargain hunt, but this floor has almost everything on racks. They also have dressing rooms and a long line of inexperienced shoppers waiting to get in. Filene's Basement veterans can be spotted trying on clothes in the aisles between the racks; they do not bother with dressing rooms. The next level down is where things start to look familiar to those of us who remember the Basement from thirty or more years ago. Crowds of bargain shoppers, tables piled high with clothes, counters with not much jewelry remaining, and racks of purses and men's clothing. There is an escalator where the staircase was back in the 1970's, but the small back stairwells are still there. Finally, the bottom level is mostly sheets and towels, and the display furniture that is being sold.
Anyone in Boston during the next two weeks should get in there asap, before the closing. It's worth the trip, if only to reminisce.
I seem to remember going the Filene's basement with you guys once. I was definitely out of my element. The shopping furor was not for me. Not even for fabulous bargains. But congratulations of your haul.
ReplyDeleteWow,,, what a haul!!! Most Excellent! Gosh I wish I was on that trip, and you helped me remember all the fun we had there with Nan taking us as small kids "the girls" (skipping school no less). I remember all the pulling piles of clothes while women fought you for them... LOL.. mad rushes when they announced a sale pile in another area... trying to read the color coded tags for dates... Mom teaching us to just run our hands down the racks to feel the "good stuff" ... count the thread lines in back of the neck ties to find good silk ones... purses, jewelry, luggage, sunglasses, dresses, sheets, perfume... ahhh the shoes THE SHOES, learning which ones were best quality and the best name brands from europe!!! I can almost smell the place!! the glory of a great find... Fighting our way up those tiny steep stairs to the streets above... the hot pretzels on the streets!! going at Christmas for the window displays... slipping over to Bailey's up the street for an incredible Sundae... the car garage!!! oh that car garage!!! carrying all those bags.. and being so scared we'd fall out of the car elevator... walking over to China town... sigh....
ReplyDeletethanks for the memories of the good ole days!!!!
I think about Bailey's every time I am downtown. That was such a cool place to go, what a shame it is long gone.
ReplyDeleteThe garage is probably also gone, or at least different from what it was. I haven't seen one of those old style car elevator garages in years.