1. McCaulou's Department Store

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Lafayette, CA

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McCaulou's Department Store

2.8 (95 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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Hmmmm
Inverleith F.

First I have to say that it's really a gift to have a small department store in Lafayette and Moraga to shop from. It's not enjoyable going to the mall or shopping areas these days. For this, i'd give 5 stars. The staff, in my experience is also a 5. They have always been courteous to me and I always find something to buy albeit not from the "older" section. Although back in the day, I could always find a pair of pantyhose for those corporate parties. As others have said, I like the selection of items. Great gifts for parties and the free gift wrapping make McCaulous a local favorite. Being retired now, I wanted to pick up some fun work and went in to apply for a job since their Hiring sign has been up for some time. Heck, if they hire young kids, why not me? It was clear that they had no interest in me from the moment they looked me in the eyes and had me complete their one page paper application on th spot. The manager that day looked briefly at my application and said the manager would call me back the following week. Well, I had to call three times before speaking with a manager. When I asked about my application , she said that she didn't think that they were hiring. Um, then why is the hiring sign still up. So, there are big problems here. 1. Why do you need my address? and 2. Why do you need to know how long I have lived there? As I mentioned these areas to the manager, I explained that these questions lead to bias. She seemed to understand and said she would share my concerns. I stated that my intent is not to cause a problem. My intent is only to share my perspective and advice and hope that there would be change. She let me know that Mr. McCaulou has been running the business for over 40 years. I said that it shows. Practices have changed you know. Next time you are shopping here please look around at the staff. I'm a 60 yo Asian woman who just wants to work, and even weekends but I don't fit their criteria obviously. I'll still shop here about once or twice a year but will always be disappointed that they are not inclusive and have a bias that hopefully is unconscious. If management is reading this review, please look at how you are hiring and come out of the 60's in your HR practices.

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Wanugee N.

McCaulou's is a 9 store local department store chain mostly in the East Bay, in nicer suburbs like Orinda, Moraga, Danville, Walnut Creek, etc. It is a throw back, old school type store, remeniscent of a small town JC Penny's without home furnishings. There is a little bit of everything in these stores inluding Men's, Women's, Girls and Boys clothes, shoes, toys, make-up. The prices are discounted, too, so it isn't so expensive like the name brand stores in the local malls in the same town (i..e. Broadway or Stoneridge centers). The help is old school, too. My sales clerk was perhaps 70 years old? Old school white suburbia. It took her 5 minutes to open a dressing room up for me, and she was moving as fast as she could! A long, long time ago, I worked at Capwell's in downtown Oakland. It was an old school department store chain of 5 stores in Oakland (flagship), Fremont (Fremont Hub), Richmond (Hilltop), Walnut Creek and El Cerrito (Plaza). It was a place where all the little old ladies loved to shop: It had a Notions department, Men's Furnishings, Foundations, and a basement with bargain bedding. (When there was a big sale in the basement, the mad crowds would come down, and it was the Sheets!) Capwell's was associated with Weinstock's in the Sacramento area, and Broadway stores in SoCal, and Emporium in SF and the peninsula. Later Macy's bought a few and others were simply closed down. McCaulou's is sort of like Capwell's. If you grew up in the neighborhood, it is a comfortable local store. If you didn't and are just curious out-of-towners, well then, it seems like an oddity from another decade, or maybe century. I did buy a pair of Levi Jeans for $35, on sale from $44 .

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1 year ago

The Service thé sélection and the value are exceptional they are helpful, informative, a pleasure to come and buy in this store

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2 years ago

Great selection and outstanding customer service. The free wrapping is a very helpful plus.

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2 years ago

Bathroom access a long-standing issue. Access depends on a clerk's assessment. Assessment of what? Who knows!

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3 years ago

Staff help of suggestions. Getting sizes and choices for every department meets my needs!

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Ask the Community - McCaulou's Department Store

Review Highlights - McCaulou's Department Store

“and get FREE gift wrap from a friendly soul who will treat you as though your business is appreciated.”

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Luck - Dressing Rooms

Luck

4.2(11 reviews)
0.2 mi

I decided to give the store another chance, about eight months ago and then again this week. Both…read moretimes I've been in, two different sales people have not even acknowledged me. I was actually very interested in a fairly inexpensive piece of jewelry, but I just cannot support stores that have no kind of customer service ethic or are not welcoming in any way? Its actually kind of awkward to be the only person in the store and you're ignored. Just feedback for the owner if they are interested. I would love to shop local as well to be clear, I am always forced back to big stores because I am actually welcomed and asked if I need help.

I popped in this store having spotted it in passing at lunch and so glad I did …read more It's a really pretty store full of beautiful clothes, accessories and beauty items. I purchased some perfume but ended up going back the next day to buy another after I ended up loving one I had tested and it was an experience I will not forget. We were on the way to drop off our oldest at College which though exciting- is a tough time for parents! The lady who helped me - Ruth - was amazing and could see I was a bit emotional; and told me if we ever needed anything, being so far away, to know that she was there as she knows exactly what it is like! It was just such an amazing gesture and lovely to know there are people like Ruth in their world. I will continue to shop here, especially that we will be back in the area so often and just want to thank the store and Ruth in particular, for an amazing experience

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Luck - Interior

Interior

Luck - Interior

Interior

Luck - Counter

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Counter

Chico's - Store goods.

Chico's

2.4(34 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$

Wow, this location was very disappointing this evening. I came in with my 89 year old mother who…read morewas on a walker and it was 5:50pm.. the woman said we are closed. I said no, you aren't closed until 6pm. We came inside and she said the changing room was closed. She explained that she needed to lock the doors because she had a new manager and rules to uphold. There was also another woman in the store as well. She was rushing everyone. Honestly you have patrons in the store who may potentially buy items and you will turn us away? It was seriously the worst customer service. It's still nice to be able to walk into a store and shop vs online everything and then to be treated poorly was completely not called for.

A friend buys a lot of clothes online from this store. When I decided I needed some new slacks I…read morestopped in the store. I never know what I want until I try things on. I have to be sure that what I think I like in a catalog is appropriate for my age group, not the one I sometimes think I am and my lifestyle. This store is small, yet they seem to have a good selection of clothing. The dressing rooms are small but are big enough for me to see if the clothes fit. I wanted to try something. The salesperson said no as I started to put my purchase down she smiled and pointed me to the dressing room. It took forever to check out. Because I got what I wanted and it fit so well. I'll be back and not expect much more than that. 5 stars for the clothes and 2 for customer service.

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Chico's - Cool women clothes... only I can't find the men's bench.

Cool women clothes... only I can't find the men's bench.

Chico's - I still haven't found the men's bench.

I still haven't found the men's bench.

Chico's - Accessories

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Accessories

Francesca's

Francesca's

3.5(48 reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$

I had a couple troubles with this store and through a series of events got connected with Crystal,…read morethe district manager. Let me tell you, from then on, I have had a lesson in the most excellent customer service! She is thorough, friendly, patient, quick to respond and extremely understanding. She helped me return some items during an extretmely difficult time in my life and I will be forever thankful for her help. Honestly, I was starting to think customer service like this was dead, but Crystal made me believe again! Thanks so much for your help, and also to your employee at the store that helped my husband with the return.

The store is closing and they have a "buy one get one free" sale, but PLEASE BEWARE!…read more Only buy 2 items at a time to get the true deal. Even if you are buying 10 items, please be sure to insist the sales people ring up 5 separate transactions of 2 items at a time so you get the best deal, otherwise, they will ring them all up together and only give you the 4 very lowest prices. It is unfortunate that the sales people don't tell customers this information in advance, but at least when you realize it, you can usually return everything and have them re-ring it so you get the deal. But, it is absolutely scammy when they don't tell you and it's a "final sale". I saw a lady in this store today buy multiple items only to find out that she did not get the deal she thought she was getting because of the way the transaction was rung up. Because it was a "final" sale, the man ringing her up said he couldn't help her and it was too late. The sale was final. Whether that was really true or not doesn't matter as much as how the sales person treated this customer. He had no empathy and really was not a nice person about it. After the lady left, he said "why do I care what happens, the stores closing and I'm not going to be here anyway." It's such a commentary on how some people just can't be kind. How hard would it be to tell customers ahead how best to have their transactions rung up to get the deal or at least be kind when the customer feels very wronged? I really don't know what is wrong with people these days. I hope this lady disputes this transaction with her credit card company because I'm sure she will be given the accurate amount she would have gotten with a proper checkout process, but with everything happening in the world today, it so sad to see that a young man couldn't have been a nicer human.

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Francesca's
Francesca's
Francesca's

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McCaulou's Department Store - deptstores - Updated October 2026

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