Forever 21 Takes Over

You probably noticed that Mervyn's officially shuttered a few months ago, but did you know that Forever 21 has seized most of those storefronts and will be moving in this spring? I witnessed one of the first openings this past weekend in Lakewood, CA (random, I know) and let me tell you--it's revolutionary. The retailer has clearly been triumphing during the recession (cheap, fast and fashionable...what's not to like?), and they're making their presence known now.



A Mervyn's-sized space might seem overwhelming for most mall retailers, but if anyone can fill it, it's F21. There was so much merchandise for both guys and girls, it was hard to keep track what sections you had already tackled.

Other bonuses? Way more fitting room options, more organized trend categories, shorter lines for everything and 40 times the selection you'd find in your local mall (where it's more of a hit-or-miss scramble against plenty of other trendy fashionista shoppers.) What's more? F21 isn't ignoring any demographic. They're expanding to a plus-size line this spring called Faith 21 due in May, swimwear, kids and more. Walking around the shopping mecca, I observed shoppers of all ages, shapes and sizes happily sorting through the racks of affordable fare.

The future of retail? Forever 21 seems to think so.