When I shopped for a richer man's clothes

We're not going to fault Nordstrom's for their decision to ax the piano players in some stores. Instead, we'll blame Nordstrom customers, and their preference for new-fangled pop music.

From the Seattle Times:

Some Nordstrom department stores are discontinuing their live piano notes in favor of commercially recorded music piped in over speakers.

Nordstrom's store at Bellevue Square recently did away with its pianist, and the Alderwood mall store in Lynnwood will soon follow suit, said company spokeswoman Brooke White.

Apparently, some shoppers prefer popular tunes by the likes of Bob Dylan, Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra to the jazz and Broadway standards that pianists have been performing in Nordstrom stores for 20 years.

"We know there's a nostalgic value to the piano, and some customers love it. But some don't. They just feel the piano is outdated," White said. "It's a difficult line to walk. We know we're going to disappoint some people."

Customers, obviously, are dumb.

Seattlest was constantly surprised by the live piano in Nordstrom's. Not being what you'd call a regular there, we'd always forget and then while the escalator was lifting us up over the perfume and makeup counters we'd hear it and think is that a real...oh yeah, there he is. For just those few moments it was very enjoyable, and it cast an air of infiltration over our shopping experience. Live piano? Obviously I don't belong in here. Look straight ahead, don't make eye contact, get in, get out. If I shove that old lady will it make enough of a commotion for me to make it to the exit? Wait, I'm shopping for a shirt...I belong in here. That piano's playing for me! Frequently someone plays "commercially recorded music" for Seattlest. Rarely does someone play the piano for us. Not only is it a nice change of pace, it's flat out better.

Westlake Nordstrom's is keeping the piano guy for the time being. Bell Square has given him the boot.