Urban Thread — Local services in Gainesville

My sister and I went here a little over a week ago, and I just keep thinking about the awful experience. I’ve been coming here since they opened, in all their locations, and have always loved the clothes selection. They’ve gotten worse lately about being open when the hours say they’ll be open, but I always tried to give them the benefit of the doubt since COVID was hard on businesses and for the last few years it seems like it’s only the owner working now not other staff. However, the last time we went here we had the same experience many other reviews mentioned. We walked in and it was more than two hours before they closed on a Saturday. The owner was at the front talking to someone, and no one else was in the store, which is pretty typical anymore. As we started looking around she asked us if we were looking for something in particular, and we told her we were just browsing. Literally only a few minutes later as we moved farther into the store she again asked us what we were looking for, and then informed us that she would be closing early today, and we asked if she’d like us to go. She said well I’m not closing just yet so okay you can look around. It got uncomfortable and felt like she was watching us but we went ahead and tried to quickly look at just a couple of areas. Within a few more minutes she interrupted us again and while still sitting behind the register with her friend leaning on the counter told us she was straightening up the store to close, and we needed to leave. Honestly the whole experience was the most uncomfortable I’ve ever felt in any retail store, and it was obvious to us later that since we didn’t give her an exact answer to what we were looking for she wanted us out. I’ve spent a lot of money here over the years, but I won’t ever be coming back. After reading other reviews I think she determines if you can stay based on how you answer the question “are you looking for something in particular?” I imagine like us, most people may not have highly specific pieces in mind when they shop for clothes, but come in ready to find items that they like and will buy, so this is the most nonsensical bizarre criteria I’ve ever experienced. Just be aware if you go that you may get the nice helpful owner or you might get kicked out, if you even manage to catch it during open...

This store is a Gainesville gem! And while I’d love to continue to gate keep, I guess it’s about time I confessed my love, publicly. I’ve been shopping with dear Lilly (owner) and sweet Nova for yearssss! Every visit is wonderful, they’re both so personable and attentive, and the unique finds are phenomenal. Each visit is at least a 1.5 to 2- hour ordeal as I gab away and meticulously go through each rack (and most times double back). Madewell, J Crew, Urban Outfitters— oh my! …and in Gainesville, FL?! I stan. No matter when I visit, there’s always something (basically everything) rare and wonderful in this store, and also I run across an amazing shoe or two. Weddings, events, and whatever— I know I can always find some fabulous piece at Urban. The time and attention put into buying and restocking is clear and evident. The prices are great, and the sales are even better.

I have run into some store hour issues post-Covid, but I am also and regrettably aware of a few health issues that make it so. I truly hope to always have this store to visit when I’m in the area. It’s become a must-stop, and amazing treat that I look forward to when I’m in town. Thank you Lilly for your years of customer service, for heightening the style game, and for bringing apex brands to Gainesville. For me, you’ve truly...

I like to support local businesses but the owner of this store treats customers very poorly. Wanted to love the store but it didn’t happen.

She will shoo you away if she thinks you will not buy.

Don’t come here if you are just browsing maybe the employees will treat you better but if it’s the owner and you don’t exactly know what you want or just wants to “look” she will literally follow you around until you feel uncomfortable and forced to leave. Very weird behavior for a retail shop owner and off putting. Most of my clothes shopping unless it’s for an event are impulse buys retail therapy they say but you won’t get that here.

The clothing selection can be overwhelming but there are nice cute clothes some have reasonable prices but I would rather just shop online or tj maxx or sandy’s closet or flashbacks or grove galleria or narcissus or anthropologie I would rather pay full price spend my money anywhere else but here. Her customer service reminds me of the customer service skills of gru employees downtown or over the phone. Non existent 😔 what a waste of energy to type this but just saving people from experiencing what I had...