giving you time to continue looking for a full-time job. I would concentrate on looking for a full-time job, not a second part-time job, while working a part-time job. It sounds like the town you’d be working in might be a nice work environment. I agree with what Chloe said that you’re worrying too much about what the customers might be like. The customers may be like me and chloe, LOL. It would give you some new experience for your resume and a chance to buy some nice clothes at a good discount, which you’ll need if you want to do anything other than manufacturing.
Most importantly, you’d be job hunting as an employed person, not an unemployed person. You don’t have to tell other potential employers how many hours you’re working at Chico’s unless they ask.
My biggest concern is what you will do for health insurance if a part-time job causes Medicaid to cut you off. But there are very inexpensive ACA plans available on the exchange for people who make just a little too much money to qualify for Medicaid. That income group is probably the one that ACA plans help the most.
Finally, I think being unemployed for over a year cannot be good for your head and your confidence, let alone your bank account. You are in your fifties and age discrimination is a real thing. That a store wants to hire you to wear and sell their clothes is a good thing. Plenty of stores cater to a younger customer demographic.
It seems worth a try. If you really hate it, you can quit. But not before buying a few cute new clothes.