[MicroBob]

I would rather work in a bar/coffee place than in a mall I think. Especially J. Crew.
But that's just me. If you heard that you can meet all kinds of people including some half-decent girls then it wouldn't surprise me.

I think your hang-ups about taking such an unspectacular job might get in your way though. If somebody laughs then why do you care wtf they think?

I also think there are ways of meeting other people and/or friends than taking a job in retail. But my social-life is pretty minimal lately so I probably shouldn't talk.
I played rec-soccer for several years and made some friends and had fun. But not really any close friendships imo even though we would go out to bars after games sometimes, etc.
Mostly just a bunch of people whose names I knew who I would see a couple times a week to play soccer with.