Heather Battle came to the Sam Moon store near Parks Mall Friday on a simple enough quest: find a purse.

The good news: there were hundreds.

The bad news: there were hundreds.

By the time she left, she'd scooped up two. A rather large black one "that can probably fit my house in it," she joked, and a smaller, trendier brown one "which I'll take with me when I go out tonight."
If a Sam Moon store is known for anything, it's selection, which is why its Grand Opening at 1112 West Arbrook Blvd. Friday was well anticipated by those with an affinity for purses, wallets, costume jewelry and a bevy of assorted fashion accessories.

By merely walking into a Sam Moon store can be something of a dizzying experience - there's just so much.

More than usual, in fact, in this particular store. It is the fourth and largest location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Dallas, Fort Worth and Frisco are the others). Texas has seven of these stores that began as a wholesaler and gained enormous popularity by selling to the public while retaining its wholesaler prices.

"An Arlington location makes logical sense for us," said owner Sam Moon. "This is the perfect location to help us reach out to new customers in southern Tarrant County."

The new store offers shoppers more than 17,000 square feet of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, scarves, belts, hats, hair accessories, and so many handbags and purses they seem to take up every possible wall space.

About 40 workers were hired in positions that include sales and management, said Moon, and it gives Arlington yet another go-to store, eliminating a trip down I-30 for some to visit the Dallas or Fort Worth locations.

Johanna Wall of Grand Prairie has shopped at the Houston store and wanted to check out the new location Friday.

"I'm always blown away by the variety they have - some of my friends actually think it's a little intimidating. But the prices are quite affordable, I think," she said. "I like the idea that if you want funky you can get funky and if you want conservative, you can get conservative.''

A Sam Moon store is for shoppers who enjoy the hunt.

"You can't necessarily be in a hurry," said Melanie Greene of Arlington, who wasn't shopping for anything in particular. "Just looking," she said.

"That's what I like about it. You're bound to find what you want here - or find something else you didn't think you wanted but bought it anyway, like this bracelet. Really, do I need it? Nope. Will I buy it? Yep."

Sam Moon Trading Co., Vice President Daniel Moon calls this the Sam Moon Shopping Experience.

"Our customers come here for the unbeatable deals, but once they walk through our doors, they encounter a unique shopping experience," Moon said. "It's that combination of remarkable values and shopping environment that brings them back."

By Ken Perkins