I would not call myself a Hello Kitty “freak”, but I am a fan. My apartment isn’t full of Hello Kitty stuff, but I do have a few items. I will admit that one simple pleasure I always enjoyed was browsing the Sanrio store on 42nd Street. It seemed that they always had new merchandise. Even if I didn’t buy anything, it was fun to see what they had. I take comfort in knowing that if I so chose, I could wake up to my Hello Kitty alarm clock, enjoy a breakfast of Hello Kitty toast and Hello Kitty waffles while watching the morning news on my pink Hello Kitty television. I wouldn’t, of course, but I could. Generally, I might purchase something every so often…a pair of gloves, a watch or maybe a wallet. Nothing too extravagant. I was always amazed at some of the merchandise they had in the front of the store. It was all imported from Japan (mostly) and they were very high ticket items. Hundreds of dollars for a designer purse or a set of Hello Kitty golf clubs. I always wondered who bought that stuff.
Recently, the store closed for renovations. I was very excited. I anxiously checked back several times over the last month or so and every time was met with the familiar oversized bow in the window with the message that they would reopen soon. This evening, my husband and I went to the movies. I insisted that we stop by the Sanrio store just to see if there were any developments. Much to my surprise, the store was reopened. Yay! When I first entered, I could tell that the store had been remodeled, but the major changes didn’t jump out right away. I needed a new pair of gloves, so I went up and down the aisles searching for a pair that might do the trick. Sadly, I discovered something that made my heart sink. There wasn’t a single pair of gloves under $75 in the entire store. Or anything under $75 for that matter. There were shoes for $350 in three different colors. Cashmere scarves, designer bags…wait, where was the Hello Kitty toaster? Or the guitar even?? I looked around and noticed a large glittery sign in the back that said “Sanrio Luxe”. WTF? Where was Kitty? I don’t think she would stand for this. She likes to dress up now and then, but at the end of the day, she’s a simple cat. She doesn’t need all this fancy crap. This isn’t 5th Avenue, it’s 42nd Street! I was devastated.
Clearly, I am no longer the clientele that they seek to purchase Hello Kitty wares. I left without buying anything (since I couldn’t afford anything). I hope that Kitty and I can still be friends. And I hope that she hasn’t forgotten her other friends, as they were very obviously absent from all merchandise in the store. It was a sad day for me. I used to go into the Sanrio store every time I passed it. Now, I fear I will never go back. Goodbye, Kitty. You will be missed.
