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| Don Quixote: Shinjuku Kabukicho | |||
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Second only to the threat of an audit by the tax office, what really strikes terror in the heart of a Japanese retailer is the news that Don Quixote will soon be opening nearby. Over the past few years, each new store opening has been another moment of joy for the little skinflint in us all.
Don Quixote has stores around the city, but the grandest outlet is in Shinjuku. Here as elsewhere, the goods displayed on the street offer a taste of the eclectic choice within - from brooms, fluffy toys and foot-baths to plastic flowers, waffle irons and disco lights. The staff have a friendly "konnichi-wa" manner, though are not the greatest help if you want to find something. Then again, it's a wonder that anyone finds anything in the place, packed as it is floor to ceiling with goods. You might suspect that the delivery man was told to "Just dump the stuff anywhere," which is where it stayed. Don Quixote basks in its cheap image. But, like the humor of Beat Takeshi, the reputation exceeds the reality. Not everything at Don Quixote is a bargain. Comparing its food prices with those at my local Summit, I found many were exactly the same. It is also often not the best place to drop by for a single item. Go there on a busy day and, as you wait patiently in the non-moving check-out line, you might feel as if glaciers could melt in the time it takes to get to the cash desk. But the serendipity value here is wonderful: you come in looking for a pair of socks and end up buying a James Brown doll that you realize you can't live without. For those in dire need of inspiration for presents, it's perfect. At Don Quixote you shop judiciously, but you also shop for fun. by David Capel |
Don Quixote
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