Tiffany's Opens First Pittsburgh Jewelry StoreRoss Park Mall Adding Several New ShopsPOSTED: 6:57 am EDT October 10,
2008 ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The store known for its little blue box has opened for business in Pittsburgh. Tiffany and Company opened on Friday at Ross Park Mall.But with Wall Street plunging and families cutting back on spending, will the luxuries offered by Tiffany's be enough to coax cash out of local wallets.A crowd of more than 200 were waiting when Tiffany opened its doors."These items are quality pieces you'll have forever. They're good investment. So if you're going to spend money, I think it's good to splurge," said shopper Christine Honan.The latest in a string of high-end stores recently added at Ross Park Mall, Tiffany's joins Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton and True Religion. But the opening of these upscale shops comes at a time when more than ever, people are keeping close tabs on how much they spend."I have two small children so obviously I wish I could go on a shopping spree. But I have to be frugal right now. Things are scary economically," said Samantha Stanlaske, another mall shopper"I'll cut back at Christmas time. I have 11 grandchildren. I have lots of cutting back I can do," said shopper Frances Kenna.Experts predict a bleak 2008 holiday shopping season, as consumers deal with the economic crisis. The hardest-hit businesses will be retail shops. JC Penny reported a 12 percent drop in sales last month. And Macy's saw a nearly 6 percent drop in sales for August and September.But Ross Park Mall manager Lisa Earl said they're actually seeing more customers."We're benefitting from having a lot of new stores. There's a lot of buzz. We have not seen anything negative to date," Earl said.This week's ABC news consumer survey shows only 20 percent of Americans are buying things other than necessities, some say it's just going to take some patience before things turn around."My shopping habits haven't changed much. I know the market is in the hole. It just takes time," said shopper Jennifer Chrobak.Ross Park Mall has another big opening in the works. Nordstom opens at the mall later this month.  Look Inside New Nordstrom Store
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