Emporium Western Store — Attraction in Bakersfield

Very frustrating experience at this store. Showed up and there was three people inside the store, two employees (I think they were employees, at least one was) and one other customer who was shopping. We were completely ignored in the store - nobody greeted us or asked if we needed help. The employees (who we weren't even sure were employees) are too busy with their own conversation to be bothered. Hung out by the cowboy hats, as we were looking to get several new hats fitted. Nothing. By that time boyfriend had found a baseball hat he wanted to buy, so we went to the register. Credit card machine wasn't working, so we couldn't even buy the consolation prize. Asked at the register if the hat fitter was in and the cashier's response was a disinterested "she's in now." No follow up or asking if we would like to see her. We just left without purchasing anything, because apparently even if we were able to get hats fitted we wouldn't of been able to purchase them. Right after we left we saw the one other customer leave the store empty handed as well. Very disappointed considering how excited we were to get new hats.

A sweet lady did say goodbye to us outside when we were leaving, which was the most interaction we had with any employee. If only she has been inside because it seemed like she was the only one interested in interacting...

Thank you Rhonda! I’ve been wanting a hat for the longest. I felt like I would be a poser for wearing a hat and not living a country lifestyle or not living on a ranch. I met a lady who encouraged me to “buy the hat!” So I went to see Rhonda at Emporium and she welcomed me and made my experience the best. She was very helpful, informative, and honest when going over the selections with me. I went in thinking I wanted a black hat, I walked out with a chocolate colored hat and I’m not disappointed. I didn’t know what I needed, but Rhonda did! I enjoyed my conversation with her. I walked in feeling uneasy but left with a smile! I will forever remember that experience and I thank her immensely for that. She truly is an expert at what she does, from customer service, to fitting, to shaping! She does it all. I can’t say enough good things about my experience as a whole. She even taught me how to properly wear and store my hat so I don’t look like a complete rookie! Thank...

My friend and I are from LA and the Emporium Western's authentic Country vibe seemed like a fun place to check out. The staff was very attentive. Two ladies greeted us on entering; they occasionally followed us around the store, asking us if we needed any help (one of them jokingly admitted that they could not resist following us around and that we would just have to get used to it).

My friend bought a cool Western Jacket and a dress that was on clearance. She didn't have time to try on the dress and, although all items on clearance were final and not returnable, the lady told my friend she could go home to try on the dress at her leisure and return it later in the week if it didn't fit her.

And when we were outside waiting for our Uber (it was nearly 8 pm and getting dark), one of the ladies offered to let us wait inside (although they were closing) because she warned us that it's not the kind of neighborhood where one wants to be on the...