Mervyn’s California Department Stores

RIP
Damn this Mervyn’s was here for the longest time, and now the insides are pretty much demolished. When I was younger, my mom would go here, and this is where I used to get my back to school gear when I was in middle school lol! Even though it was always cluttered and messy inside I give it 5 stars for the memories!

As of today, it’s officially closed! Kohl’s coming here eventually.

I’m mostly writing this review because I just found out that the trying-​to-​be-​highbrow ‘Alameda Towne Centre’ (aka ‘it’ll always be Southshore Shopping Mall’ to us native Alamedans) has just booted out Mervyn’s. This store isn’t high-​fashion. It isn’t cutting edge. What it is is an honest, working middle class department store were you can get decent quality sheets, towels, household appliances, underwear, Levi’s and slightly generic-​looking shoes at good prices. And where you don’t have to fight for parking. And where the place is open ’til 10pm. I’ve been shopping at Mervyn’s (whose headquarters are in Hayward – no Wal-​Mart big-​box multinational chain here) since I was a little kid, and used to take my grandmother there when she was too old and sick to want to do anything more than putz around and try to buy sale items she didn’t really need.
Shame on ATC for booting Mervyn’s out. It’s one of the few remaining bastions of blue collar retail pride on the Island.

I’ve been a Mervyn’s shopper since the 1980’s. The store is great, service is good… but during these sales… the store is trashed. /​/​Free Mall parking, restrooms, lots of cashiers.

Hell Nah.
I bought some shoes. I try them on, I ask the girl to please get me a bigger size, she pops her lips
«Um, Yea… I dont know. Wait»
She return giggling from some punk that she was talking to, She looked at me and remember she was supposed to be helping me. She returned gave me the shoes and walked away.
I use to work here youre so I know your supposed to check the box, to see if any damage to shoe or if they have both Left and Right.
I come home. I try on my shoes. Not only were they both «Right «foot shoes. But Damn… One had a size 9, the other 9 ½. LOL really.
I walked back returned the shoes, got my money back because seriously this bitch was gonna get strangled with the stockings they had on the counter. Please Kids Dont try this at home

Mervyn’s seems more lively and organized than the Sears in Oakland. I noticed a wider selection of merchandise, and lots more people sorting through and purchasing said merchandise, at Mervyn’s than at Sears. Home electronics and large appliances may not be available at this store, but there is always the Office Max across the lot that surely offers some stuff.

Ok, I’m in… I circle the Men’s department 3 times and grab various cotton based ariticles of clothing. 10 minutes tops.
I wait in line at the check-​stand. Li’l John is there with his baby-​momma and she’s buying him a ton of clothes. The guy checking them out takes forever… ok another 10 minutes gone.
Next is the old Filipino couple who start haggling…“No I buy one get three free… one, two three.” «No, it’s three for the price of one… two free». «Come with me, I show you sign.»
Seriously, the cashier left. 10 minutes gone by again.
Finally help comes and my arms are about to fall off ’cause there are no carts.
Extra star for offering me credit a few years ago and for the fact that I can walk there.

When I get that itch to buy something I come to Mervyns. Why Mervyns? Because they seem to ALWAYS have a Super Sale. Why an itch? Boredom, I guess.
Boredom + Super Sale = Dee buying a bunch of cheap, useless stuff.
I can come out of that store with a pair of earrings I know I will never wear. I can come out of that store with a 5-​piece luggage set knowing I will only make use of the smallest luggage for my Vegas trip. But most of all, I will come out of that store knowing the junk I bought satisfied my itch and the 2 hours well spent satisfied my boredom.
Heading home now to sell the crap I bought on eBay.

Mervyn’s is very close in proximity to my home so I often have the urge to get Mervynated, particularly when it’s a bit later in the evening and I have the sudden urge to buy something random that I could really live without at that particular moment… underwear, towels, socks, housewares… Often times there is a 40−50% sale going on. I also love their juniors dept. where you can get cute tees, hoodies and sweaters at a good price. Love the hours too! Open until 10pm… on weeknights and Saturdays and even later for the holidays…