Winner: $100 Gift Certificate
Laurie Sigelman
Last Feb, after getting back from a weekend in Palm Springs we noticed our beloved 4 yr old dog would not keep food down. After a week of heartbreaking ICU for her, on Feb. 19th we put her to sleep. Molly was a real part of CTC as well and was at all of the Los Angeles area store openings as well as any of the big events. She became a sort of de facto CTC Mascot. Feb. 19th was a Saturday and after we came home, I decided I would go to my local Studio City store, as I did not know what to do with myself. I was in pain like I had never known. While there I ran into this woman I had met only once at a holiday party. She had seen peoples’ Facebook posts regarding Molly and asked about her. I told her she passed away. She then told me someone had thrown this gorgeous 5 month old beautiful cocker puppy out of a house at midnight in the rain and she couldn’t keep it as she was in a studio apartment. We now are the proud parents of a gorgeous girl named Sadie. This would not have happened had I not gone there that Saturday. Our heart and house is again filled with love and I have CTC to thank for this.
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Greta Snyder
Growing up in the middle of nowhere in Washington State, I always felt I was at least four years behind everything cool, whether it was Snoop Dog or shortalls. As a teenager in the late 90s, I remember finding a jackpot of fat Vogue back issues at a garage sale. Rushing home, I began devouring the glossy pages, hungry for a sense of fashion beyond Doc Martins and plaid. I vividly remember a 1993 cover with Linda Evangelista and feeling if I only had her fitted velvet jacket in plum that my life would be infinitely more exciting. I implored my Mom to go shopping somewhere besides our boring county mall and she finally relented during a trip to Seattle, promising to take me to a new store, Crossroads. Since my Mom loves a good bargain, her description of the store emphasized “used” and “cheap.” This sounded awful to me, as I wanted “rich,” “new,” and “stylish.”
I remember standing in the misty morning and hesitatingly opening the door. Much to my surprise, Crossroads was an energy explosion of colors, textures, and patterns. I had never felt more at home in a store; it was like a magical dress-up chest I had as a child. I rummaged for hours, finally capturing a purple velvet jacket and clutching it to my chest all the way home. Still today, every time I find a treasure at Crossroads I have the same thrill: that jacket really did make my life more exciting.
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Melanie Neill
About a year ago, my daughter Malia discovered a boutique store in the Haight that carried charming sweatshirts with adorable sushi cartoon images. As charming as they were, as a practical (okay tightwad) mother, I just couldn’t stomach their price tags. I’m all for my girl looking cute (and displaying her love for sushi!), but at $48.00 a sweatshirt, I simply could not justify the cost. No matter how much Malia fawned over the jackets, she had to walk out empty handed and feeling disappointed.
Now jump to the present, and we are having a mother and daughter outing in Downtown Berkeley, and I’m coaxing my reluctant daughter to go with me to Crossroads Trading Co. As I am looking around the store trying on great jackets, what do I see, but a brand new sushi sweatshirt- the very sweatshirt Malia was coveting in that Haight store! At $12.50 I grabbed it.
It might be a little too big for her, but Malia doesn’t mind. She told me she is happy to roll up the long sleeves –and besides she said, “Who doesn’t love a baggy hoodie?”
Now I have found really nice clothes and amazing deals throughout the fifteen years I have been shopping at Crossroads, but that sweatshirt was by far my best find. Thank you Crossroads Trading Co. for that huge smile on my daughter’s face! Thank you for that great deal and thank you for making shopping with mom no longer such a drag!
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Hayley Hansen
My best friend was in town from Chicago and we went shopping around my neighborhood. In the window of a store, we both spotted the most adorable dress. It was white with a purple/burnt orange detailing and a full skirt. It was a gorgeous take on a ‘50’s party dress. We knew we both had to have it, so we ran into the store to try it on. It fit her like a glove, but because the store we were in was a very small boutique, they didn’t have an extra in my size. She could see that I was heartbroken and in solidarity told me that if I couldn’t have one, that she wouldn’t buy it either. I told her that it was fine, and encouraged her to buy it anyway (it really did look amazing on her). After a while I forgot all about the dress incident—that is until I walked into the Studio City Crossroads a month later. Looking through the racks of clothes, I hadn’t really found anything I liked. That is until I found THE DRESS. There it was, used but with the tags still on, a fraction of the price that it was in the other store, and most importantly, MY SIZE! Now, whenever we see each other and go out, we’re both in the dress. Most think it’s cheesy, the whole “Best-Friends-In-Matching-Outfits” thing, but we love it. Moral of the story: Crossroads will always be my favorite store.
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Diane Oviatt
My son has had some struggles since coming out at the end of high school and has had trouble figuring out what to do with his life during the past 4 years. He had been working at a lackluster job, not worthy of his abilities, so we were all thrilled when he started a job with the ACLU campaigning for gay rights. He loved it and was promoted right away. Yay! Only one thing still bothered me; he was carrying his belongings to work each day in a paper shopping bag. I had wanted to get him a great messenger bag to celebrate his new life, but knew I could not afford anything too pricey. Naturally I turned to my trusty Crossroads on College Ave in Oakland. Imagine my disappointment when all I could come up with was a navy blue canvas thing that was really not adequate. I asked one of the associates her opinion and she concurred when I told her what I needed it for. Then she said,” We just got an amazing distressed leather one in, I will show it to you.” She reappeared with the perfect brown leather shoulder bag with an envelope flap and cool inside pockets. In fact, it was so amazing, I was sure it was one of those designer ones that may still be out of my reach financially. Was I ever shocked when she quoted me the price of $25.00! Another Crossroads miracle! He gets compliments on it every day.
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Kelli Derum
Tall. Handsome. Puppy Dog Eyes. Stylish. Broke. This describes my co-worker who was telling me how it was his wife’s birthday and how she is a Coach addict. He put his hands deep in his pocket revealing $30 dollars. He exclaimed how this year his wife would be disappointed as times are tight and that was all he had until payday.
Having felt the pain of not even getting a birthday card from my hubby when times were extremely tight, I emphasized with Lee.
Then came the thought of taking him to Crossroads Trading in Seattle. I had been there a gazillion times and bought designer purses for a pittance. I told Lee I had a surprise for him.
He looked a bit disoriented when we arrived. He had seen the place before but thought it was just another expensive boutique. I led the way to the purses, then took off for some jean shopping for myself.
15 minutes later I return to see the biggest spark in his eyes. He had found the perfect gift. A small brown coach purse for under $25. Until he left the office that day, he was smiling ear to ear.
He did promise me lunch on payday; that hasn’t come but no worries. That’s what friends are for.
