Palmer stores have consumers worried about higher prices

These days Palmer Square may be confused for Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive with stores like Banana Republic, J. Crew and Ann Taylor taking root in the chic shopping locale.

For students, the designer labels also bring steep prices, with T-shirts selling for $30 and jeans as high as $150.

And the list of name-brand clothing stores continues to grow.

A new Ralph Lauren store will be moving in next to Origins and Mimi Maternity, and Zoe will be moving across the street, taking over the space previously occupied by the Gap.

Yet some students say Palmer Square's stores are not within their budgets.

And with expensive stores like Zoe and Ralph Lauren in town, the Gap's closing disappointed many students, since its clothing was slightly less expensive.

But the change doesn't matter to some.

"The difference between the Gap and Ralph Lauren is miniscule," Jeremy Chan '05 said.

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"It still doesn't fit into my budget."

Chan is not alone. Over 50 percent of incoming freshman receive financial aid, and even some who do not, such as Hilary Dobel '08, agree that "I would be using half of my spending money for the year on a jacket at Zoe."

Yet Loretta Lin, a buyer at Zoe, said that students do shop at the store.

She also noted that town residents are some of her most regular customers.

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However, Sheldon Sturges, co-chair of the community-based organization Princeton Future, said town residents, like students, have budgetary restrictions.

With a group of local business owners, Sturges is trying to form a community-based neighborhood-retail initiative to help them compete with Palmer Square.

Sturges and his group have had over 200 meetings with local residents, who have stressed the need for more affordable housing, parking and retail stores.

However, the University is opposed to the formation of the new group.

Director of Community and State Affairs Pamela Hersh cited the existence of similar organizations like the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Borough Merchants Association.

"[The new organzation would create] another layer of bureaucratic administration and the imposition of more fees on the property owners," Hersh added.

But Sturges said the organization could provide a needed service for students and the community.

In fact, the group is organizing a special October promotion for students, which will include $15 lunches and $25 dinners at local restaurants.

With the promotion, Sturges said, the group is trying to reach out to University students.

"The idea [is] that everyone works together — University, citizens, Palmer Square Management" to create a more affordable community, Sturges said.

Sturges added that, despite what he perceives as tension between small businesses and Palmer Square, "my opinion of [Palmer Square Management] is quite high."

Sturges and his group contend that if they are successful, students and the community will be able to find less expensive shopping alternatives to Palmer Square.