Secret Service agents arrived a half-hour before the first lady — who was camouflaged under a baseball cap and sunglasses — arrived to shop at Target at the Potomac Yard Shopping Center in Alexandria, Va., an upscale suburb straddling the edge of Washington, D.C.
Target provided the perfect ambiance for the glamorous Mrs. O to relive her pre-White House days and to pierce the realm of normalcy, even if for just a few minutes. Target is quintessential Americana, and there is something for everyone inside the mammoth stores. Anything from bedding and baby items to furniture to men’s and women’s clothing to entertainment, electronics, toys, home items, health and beauty to even Halloween costumes, Target makes it possible for even the shopping averse to enjoy a little shopping therapy. Target is also renowned for its large-scale philanthropy and devotion to inclusion in the workplace. It takes its social responsibilities as a good corporate neighbor seriously and, subsequently, diverse demographics have responded in kind with their loyal patronage.
In addition to quality goods at reasonable prices, Target offers a very welcoming environment and easy-to-locate items for an efficient shopping experience. Furthermore, as Mrs O’s husband, President Obama, begins his 2012 re-election campaign, Obama’s shopping at Target helped the local economy.
Unrecognized by the regular shoppers, Obama pushed her own cart up and down the isle for 30-40 minutes and bought regular household items, such as dog food and toys for Bo and other undisclosed items. It wasn’t until she and her aide got in line to pay that someone discerned just who was in their presence.
“It is not uncommon for the first lady to slip out to run an errand, eat at a local restaurant or otherwise enjoy the city outside the White House gates,” said Kristina Schake, Michelle Obama’s communications director.
The point is, even as she enjoys and revels in her all-important role as the partner of the most powerful man in the world, the first lady nonetheless has occasional cravings for the life of a normal American citizen. Target provided an ideal environment for Mrs. O to satisfy that need.
–terry shropshire
