[BarTopDancer]

I think Kohls will run Mervyns out of business. When the Kohls in HB opened the Mervyns in that center lost a ton of business and never gained it back. Even with Bella Terra open Mervyns is still dead while Kohls is hopping.

Across the street from me is another set of Mervyns and Kohls. Again, Mervyns is dead while Kohls is hopping.

I don't see the mid-level department store fading. I think the consumer is recognizing that they can get good quality for not a fortune, and are choosing their stores accordingly. While the age of charge it spend spend live beyond your means is still alive and well a new generation of fiscally consertative people are coming into play, a generation who do not want to spend $85+ on a pair of jeans. This generation is a mix of people coming of age and also those who have changed their financial ways.

I don't ever see those who want decent clothes at decent prices ever having to choose between Target/Wal-Mart and Nordstroms.

And I agree about the quality of Target stuff slipping. I used to be able to go there and find come cute stuff that would last awhile. The last clothing I bought from them fell apart after a month. For the price you can get better stuff at ON.