What is your shopping personality?

Date Modified: 04/09/2008 9:43 AM

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    It is not common knowledge, as there are no scientific studies to confirm it, but shoppers can be categorized by their personalities. According to SuperPages.com, shopping personalities include, but are not limited to, window shoppers, bargain hunters, power shoppers, shopaholics, and the shopping miser.
    Window shoppers enjoy a leisurely stroll through the mall, preferably accompanied by a good friend. You don’t have any specific purchases in mind, but you love the whole shopping atmosphere, especially during the holidays. You enjoy spying the latest fashions in the front-window displays, eating frozen yogurt, and people-watching from a bench.
    The bargain hunter is the careful spender always in search of sales. They have a knack for digging up $6 sweaters and $10 pants in discount store bins - even brand names!
    Enter the power shopper. They don’t shop very often, but when they do, they know exactly what they want and where to find it. Organized and store-savvy, they check the sale fliers regularly and keep a list with them when they shop. They walk fast, weaving between the "window shoppers" who constantly block their path. They know their spending limits and won’t buy what they don’t need, especially if the price isn’t right. They prefer to shop alone.
    Shopaholics are simply those who find pure enjoyment in the entire process of browsing, buying, and using their purchases and can afford to indulge themselves.
    The shopping miser hates to shop. They traipse through the malls grumbling like a scrooge and make other shoppers miserable in the process. They always find something to complain about: the parking, the sales help, the prices, the return policies, and the fact that clothes aren’t made in the USA anymore.
    Aside from the shopping misers, Rochester has something to offer for any shopping personality.
    Apache Mall in southwest Rochester is anchored by Sears, Penney’s, Herbergers and Macys and has everything from Applebees to Zales Jewelers, not to mention a very diversified food court. Food is important, because any kind of shopping works up an appetite. The Shops at University Square (formerly the Galleria), downtown, offers an enclosed, multi-level shopping complex with a variety of specialty shops and restaurants. Plus, there is ramp parking connected by skyways.
    These are just two of the 25 shopping malls in Rochester. Others include Miracle Mile on the highway 52 frontage road at Second Street SW, Rochester Marketplace at the intersection of U.S. 52 and 41st St. Northwest, is a growing mall with an electronics store, Famous Footwear, Staples, U.S. Cellular, Super Target, Home Depot, and a number of specialty shops. Broadway Commons is located southeast of the intersection of South Broadway and 25th Street Southeast. It is home to a Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Sportmart, Old Navy, Famous Footwear, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Michaels Arts & Crafts stores, among others. Let’s not forget TJ Maxx Plaza on 1300 Salem Road west of U.S. 52; Crossroads, at the intersection of U.S. 14 and South Broadway; and Best Buy Plaza, U.S. 52 North past 37th Street. Northwest Plaza is an example. It would be more easily recognized as the Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Plaza. It’s on 55th Street west of U.S. 52.
    Other shopping centers on the north side of town are Silver Lake Shopping Center, next to Silver Lake in the 1500 block of North Broadway; Northgate Shopping Center, 1100-1300 blocks of Seventh Street Northwest; Northbrook Shopping Center, 1593-1645 North Broadway, south of the Recreation Center; Barlow Plaza, 1101-1315 Sixth St. N.W., east of the intersection of U.S. 14 and 52; Hillcrest, on the East Side of U.S. 52 south of the 19th Street Bridge; Maplewood Mall is also on U.S. 52 North, starting at 3904. On 37th Street, in the 1700 block, there is Northpoint and Valhalla and Elton Hills Plaza and Elton Hills Plaza West are on Elton Hills Drive, Valhalla in the 300 block and the Elton Hills Plaza in the 100 block. Cedarwood Mall is north of the intersection of 18th Avenue Northwest and 41st Street.
    Luckily for the shopaholics, there are also some opportunities for the south side: Soldiers Field Plaza, 808-848 South Broadway; Eastwood Plaza, 1500 block of 12th Street Southeast (12th Street Southeast is also called the Beltline); Cub Foods Center, 1021 15th Ave. S.E.; South Zumbro Plaza, 500 Crossroads Drive.
    Whether browsing or buying, on a mission or killing time, alone or with friends, Rochester shopping is always a satisfying experience.