Indy Hampden: Cheap Underwear & Socks

GET YOUR CHEAP SOCKS & UNDERWEAR
One concern voiced by  some residents about Indy Hampden is that the current batch of independent businesses along the Avenue on 36th St. don't sell things  like cheap underwear and socks.

First, a little history. The businesses along the Avenue that once sold items like cheap underwear and socks all left Hampden over the past 20 - 30 years. Gradually they pulled out or went bankrupt because there wasn't a customer base to sustain them. The last of which, GC Murphy closed about 5 or 6 years ago. Since then, there have been 3 dollar stores that have opened on 36th St. and closed becuase, again, there isn't a customer base to support it.

In the storefronts they vacated, the current batch of independent merchants opened. No one was displaced by any of these independent shops.

The sorts of formula retail Independent Hampden is fighting ot keep  off the Avenue is not the kind that will sell you cheap underwear and socks. Most likely, those businesses aren't coming back. The types of businesses we're talking about here are places like Pier 1, Old Navy, The Gap, Banana Republic, etc. Not exactly the sorts of places known for selling cheap underwear.

And for the record, there is a store that has been on the Avenue for 15 years that sells cheap underwear and socks, Sandy's Bargain Center. Well, they've been on the Avenue until recently, redevelopment and rising rent costs have forced them to move off of 36th St. now. They are currently located on Hickory, just off 36th, behind Philly's Best Carryout.

As this photo shows, not only do they carry cheap underwear and socks, but also doo-rags and DVD copies of Armed & Dangerous starring John Candy. Sandy's Bargain Center is a great and fascinating old-school style general store. And yes, there's your cheap  underwear and socks.

Comments

[hank]

they used to sell crossbows too, and elvis lamps, and nascar themed tree trunk cross-section collector clocks.

the best was bargin bens (sic) - they actually had a huge sign made with a blatent spelling error. that used to be in the "wine source building" (circa 1995) giant dollar store with great collection of disposable clothes.