I have been working for years on getting an interview with Aeropostale-- ever since it was spun off from Macy’s. I have never been successful, but over the past week, our field producer Harlan Reinhardt lobbied hard for the company to give us a chance. And it did.

After meeting the company’s CEO, Julian Geiger, I can’t figure out why the company has been so camera shy all these years.

The first thing Gieger did when I walked in was to offer me half of his sandwich. The funny thing is, he was serious. He is a regular guy with a great sense of humor, who likes to joke around and laugh. Not many business leaders let down their guard around a camera crew.

I also had the pleasure of going to the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, New Jersey. What was striking to me as I passed Hot Topic, Abercrombie & Fitch, and other teen stores is how different they are from each other. Admittedly, I am a little out of touch because we don’t really have many malls in Manhattan.

If you’re not familiar with Hot Topic, it appeals to the “alternative” youth, with its music-oriented clothing -- what I would consider the “Goth” crowd.

Abercrombie & Fitch, on the other hand, has music blaring at insanely loud levels. It’s going after a “casual luxury” look and markets itself with sensual photographs.

Aeropostale, on the other hand, focuses on more wholesome clothing that kids and parents can feel good about. Geiger made it clear -- the company isn’t catering to trendsetters -- just average kids who want to blend in with everyone else.

Though the clothes are so different, Amy, a store associate in the Wayne store, told me most kids shop all over the mall. She says a typical customer could pair a tee shirt from Hot Topic with pants from Abercrombie and a hoodie from Aeropostale. I thought there would be certain cliques frequenting each store.

I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised, though, because that’s the way I shop. I wouldn’t say I’m loyal to any one store.

For those of you with teenage kids... Where do you shop? How do you shop? Does it surprise you Aeropostale and The Buckle are doing well? What are your kids buying? What stores are decidedly uncool?