Shoppers were greeted by empty racks and cheap prices when they visited one of East Lansing’s most famous landmark retailers Sunday.

It was far from the heydays of Jacobson’s in downtown East Lansing that residents remember. Instead, the store at 333 E. Grand River Ave. was open for the last time, and faithful shoppers were saying their farewells of sorts.

The department store is leaving downtown, but will reopen at Meridian Mall, 1982 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, next week.

Some of the store’s lifelong shoppers say things won’t be the same in East Lansing without it.

“I shopped here in the ’40s when the co-eds used to flock here on days they had sales,” said East Lansing resident Elizabeth Rimpau.

Rimpau, a 1949 MSU alumna, shopped at Jacobson’s on Sunday afternoon with her daughter Joy Rimpau, a 1975 MSU alumna.

“I remember when (Joy) was little, I would get nice dresses and things for her from here,” Rimpau said. “She was a tomboy and didn’t always wear everything.”

It’s not a surprise to either Rimpau that Jacobson’s has packed up and moved to Meridian Mall.

“Fifteen years ago one store after another was leaving downtown,” she said. “Lieberman’s, Maurices, Redwood & Ross - all stores that have left.

“Grand River is totally different today - you see things you didn’t see last week.”

Rimpau’s daughter said the store’s new location should not threaten sales.

“It’s not hard to go to Okemos, but it was just nice to have here,” Joy Rimpau said.

Nancy Peters of Duck Lake said she’ll remain faithful to Jacobson’s.

“I lived in Lansing for many years and still get to MSU about once a week,” Peters said, browsing through a rack of blouses that were on sale. “It’s sad to see them leave East Lansing, but I’ll definitely go to the new store in the mall.”

Peters, too, doesn’t think the move will affect the store’s sales much.

“I would be surprised if it makes too much of an impact,” she said. “I think the students really only shop in the specialty stores anymore.”

But psychology senior Ingrid Stump has fond memories of shopping at Jacobson’s as a child and still made it there once in a while as a student.

“My grandmother used to bring me here and buy me nice clothes,” she said. “It makes downtown feel less nice with the store leaving. When Meridian Mall came, it made coming here less frequent.

“The East Lansing downtown will miss it.”

Stump, who was shopping with her mother, said they would probably be spending $200 on clothes Sunday, but have saved hundreds on purchases made recently at the store.

“I don’t think Jacobson’s will be as nice at the mall,” she said. “The parking will be more convenient but it won’t feel the same.”

But convenience is why Linda Newell is happy with the move.

“I live by the mall and go there all the time,” Newell, of Okemos, said. “Parking is so bad here, I don’t get over here much.

“I’m glad I’ll be able to drive into a large parking lot at the new location.”

Women made up the majority of shoppers Sunday, but some of the men shopping with their wives said the move is a good thing.

“I’m glad they’re moving to the mall,” said Lansing resident Dave Hagerman. “That’s where we do most our shopping anyway.”

Hagerman said he and his wife Charlene will probably end up spending more money at the new location than they do downtown.

“We’ve probably spent way too much here over the years as it is,” he said smiling.

And he’s not the only one who’s spent a pretty penny at the store.

“With three kids, with most of their clothes from there, I’ve spent thousands at Jacobson’s,” East Lansing City Councilmember Beverly Baten said Sunday. “I was there yesterday to take one last swing through the store.

“That’s sad because I was here when it was built.”

Baten has been active in the East Lansing business community for many years and said the city is lucky Jacobson’s stuck around as long as it did.

“I understand the necessity of business,” she said. “We were really one of the last bastions of downtown department stores in the country.

“It’s just hard to see an old friend leave.”

Emily Robinson can be reached at robin314@msu.edu.