Walking through the Totem Lake Ross feels uncannily like a stroll through a detention center: the overly-visible loss prevention officers are pleasant enough but still unquestionably obnoxious. One feels like a suspect just walking through the front door, and like someone just released from prison upon finally escaping - er, leaving.

Another hazard is the width of aisles, which are nearly too small to accommodate the shopping carts. Seriously, who designed this place?

Yes, to be fair, like all Ross store locations, there are good deals to be found... only at this one, you'll be lucky to leave with them in one piece - literally. We had to specifically request that the sales associate wrap the ceramics in paper to avoid cracks on the drive home. One would think this would be the most obvious practice in the world for someone who works in a store selling dishes and kitchenware, but apparently not here. Also fun was the way she asked if I wanted to pay the five cents for a paper bag (something I forgot was now the law in Kirkland with the departure of those evil plastic bags, har har), and then proceeded to stack our items on the counter when I said no. Yes, ma'am, we're really going to walk out the door bearing a cartful of items in our arms. Meh?

Head over to the Woodinville or Redmond location and save yourself the experience. In the meantime maybe they can spare a few men and a bulldozer from the rest of the Totem Lake Mall demolition project and tear down this place, too.