Chico's

"A PLANTATION STATE OF MIND On Saturday, 25 March 2023, my wife made the mistake of entering this store. She had been helping to set up a family birthday party and had rushed out afterward to get a top for the event and a funeral that had been added to our tour. (She had come in from out-of-state for the event; owing to a funeral for her brother-in-law, NY Knicks/NBA Hall-of-Famer Willis Reed, things had become hectic.) As such, she was in sweats and her natural hair was a bit mussed from a very busy weekend. She walked in as another woman walked out. The exiting customer was in a warm conversation with a woman who then returned to the sales counter. As she did so, barely acknowledged my wife with a wave and not a word. She was one of the two women working the store, and yet she couldn't be bothered to even say, "Hello." (According to a clerk in a nearby clothing boutique, this first woman is apparently the owner of this franchised store, Chico's.) My wife quietly noted the cold reception and then went looking through the racks to find some tops that would work with her ensemble. A second woman came out from the rear of the store and asked what she was seeking. My wife told her, and then the second woman simply walked away. No help, no words, nothing more. The second woman joined the first woman behind the counter, where both of them ignored my wife until she approached the counter. By this time, the first woman's cold stare and wordless presence had grated my otherwise very calm wife. (She was in the USAF and was a Hurricane Hunter; while she has dealt with discrimination all her life, she tends to be literally the calm in the eye of a storm.) My wife, who usually overlooks such obvious plantation-flavored racism, told the two wordless women she would be shopping elsewhere, laid the selected apparel on the counter and departed the store for the boutique next door. According to other stores, this seems to be a regular thing at this particular Chico's, where the antebellum South seems to be de rigueur."

"Loved everything in the store. Their clothing is very well made. Easily cleaned and long-lasting. Worth the price. And the ladies in there are very very helpful. It was great to be able to try the clothing on to see how it fits. I'm glad that feature is coming back:-)"

"My favorite clothing store in Alabama"

"Nice atmosphere and customer service. Clothes are pretty nice too."

"Brandy, who works here in the Eastern shores shopping center in Daphne, AL provides excellent customer service. I’ve been in this particular store twice now. I actually live in Wilmington, NC. Each time I’ve come in, she’s friendly, efficient and helpful. The last time I was in, I had unknowingly lost a diamond earring my mother had given me. A customer had found it in the dressing room and Brandy was quick to track me down to return it. I felt so glad and relieved. My faith in the goodness of people was reinforced. Thank you, Brandy! You are wonderful."