Janis Cohen is one of just three local Neiman Marcus employees who remembers the August day the store made its debut on the Atlanta retail scene. The southwest Atlanta resident was part of the crew that was on the clock the day the upscale department store opened its doors at then open-air Lenox Square.
But after 38 years in a variety of roles at the store, Cohen turned in her employee ID at the end of December.
“I had never even heard of Neiman Marcus before they came here,” admitted Cohen, 63, who had worked in a smaller department store and a jewelry shop before applying for a job with the newcomer. “I can’t believe I stayed as long as I did. When I got my first Mustang, I decided to stay only until I paid if off. I’ve paid off five or six cars since then!”
Cohen started in the receiving department, then took over the customer service office for almost 10 years. She became a supervisor in receiving, where merchandise arrived almost daily by truck and was unpacked, prepped and delivered to the sales floor. The job frequently required Sundays and night shifts that ended at daybreak. During the holiday season, work was always six days a week.
“I had the chance to do different jobs, so work never got stale,” she said. “I had great general and operations managers who always urged me to try other things. I learned a lot, particularly that I could keep my focus, handle people and manage a budget.”
During her tenure, Cohen met a fellow employee who "swept me off my feet" and became her first husband. She greeted designers such as Halston and Oscar de la Renta, and attended various store-sponsored events, from outings to Six Flags to luncheons at the Cherokee Town Club. She was on hand when the store expanded and added a lower level. Through the years, she rarely missed a day and was honored with gifts at her 25th and 30th anniversaries.
She also grew up technologically with the store, teaching herself how to use a computer and attending company training sessions to master new automated systems.
“We didn’t have registers when I started,” she recalled. “The biggest challenge was learning the Internet, but now that I’m retired, I’m going to take a computer class to work on my e-mail skills.”
One skill Cohen did master at Neiman’s? Shopping.
“Working here certainly taught me how to buy good pieces,” she said, laughing and showing off a classic black suit paired with designer pumps. “It taught me value and not to be extravagant. I learned how to pick out nice things.”
Last year, after her mother passed away and she was diagnosed with diabetes, Cohen decided the 2010 retail season would be her last. Her future now includes more global shopping while she fuels her passion for travel. She’s already planned a cruise for the spring, but meanwhile, she’s sticking close to home.
“Right now,” she said, “my plans are to sleep late, drink coffee and walk with my neighbors.”
"Milestones" covers significant events and times in the lives of metro Atlantans. Big or small, well-known or not -- tell us of a Milestone we should write about. Send information to hm_cauley@yahoo.com; call 404-514-6162; or mail to Milestones, c/o Jamila Robinson, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30346.
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