
{"id":4310,"date":"2008-12-19T10:50:55","date_gmt":"2008-12-19T18:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.carrborocitizen.com\/main\/?p=4310"},"modified":"2008-12-19T10:51:31","modified_gmt":"2008-12-19T18:51:31","slug":"underwear-uncovered-in-carrboro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/2008\/12\/19\/underwear-uncovered-in-carrboro\/","title":{"rendered":"Underwear uncovered in Carrboro"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>By Margot C. Lester<br \/>\nStaff Writer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>You read it on message boards or overhear it being discussed at Weaver Street or the Open Eye. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a virulent meme that spread faster than the Andromeda Strain. In fact, Carrboro Board of Aldermen candidate Katrina Ryan mentioned it in this very paper: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The same residents in Carrboro that need affordable housing need affordable socks and underwear.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Nov. 1, 2007).<\/p>\n<p>Variations on that theme have been repeated since then, including at a recent chamber of commerce economic briefing, where Orange County Planning director Craig Benedict expanded the territory a bit. Benedict said the new retail center proposed at Buckhorn Road should alleviate concerns some people have that there is nowhere to buy underwear in Orange County.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Wondering if it were indeed true that there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no place to buy \u00e2\u20ac\u0153foundation garments,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as my dear, departed mother would say, this reporter scoured the town for evidence of intimate apparel. The result? Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get your briefs in a bunch, because, to our relief, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plenty of underwear in Carrboro, y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all. You can consider this myth busted. <\/p>\n<p>Technical underwear<\/p>\n<p>Downtown is home to two purveyors of high-end skivvies: Fleet Feet and Townsend Bertram &#038; Company at Carr Mill (200 N. Greensboro St.). (Yes, Performance Bicycle sells the stuff too; but since they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re decamping to Eastgate later this winter, we didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t include them in the survey.) But don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go in asking for underpants. What these stores sell goes by the fancy term \u00e2\u20ac\u0153base layers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n<p>When my spouse asked if they sold underwear at Fleet Feet, Santa\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s little helper responded: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really sell underwear, we sell \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcrun\u00e2\u20ac\u2122derwear. But I bet we could order it for you from somewhere.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d They did have a nice Champion sports bra in stock for $15 though. <\/p>\n<p>Townsend Bertram has the most robust selection for men and women, ranging from $15 (Patagonia ladies\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 bikini) through $25 (ExOfficio boxer briefs) to $40 (Icebreaker Body Fit men\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s briefs).<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We used to stock a Patagonia thong, but it didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t sell well,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Audrey Townsend, the store\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s owner. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s available by special order.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The store also sells silk long johns and sports bras. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So, yeah, we have a lot of underwear \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the long and the short of it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Affordable underthings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But the good news for Ms. Ryan and others concerned with affordability is that there are a lot of reasonably priced bloomers here in the Seattle of the South. Over at the Rite-Aid in Willow Creek Shopping Center (602 Jones Ferry Road), gals can pick up a three-pack of Hanes or Leggs brand panties or a single \u00e2\u20ac\u0153shaper\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for $5.99. A sports bra will set you back a cool $7.99. Gents are out of luck here though. No shorts whatsoever, but we did find a tie for $5.99 and belts at two for $10. And unless the kiddies need UnderJams\u00e2\u201e\u00a2, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll get no actual undies here either.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The mother lode<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The juggernaut of undergarments is, hands down, the Dollar General at Carrboro Plaza (104 N.C. 54). On this particular Monday, Dixie Belle brand briefs (made just up the road in Gibsonville) were available in many sizes at two for $6. Kids\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 no-name underpants were priced at three for $4.50. Bras were slightly more expensive, but still under $10. And, because \u00e2\u20ac\u02dctis the season, there was even a nice selection of thermal undergarments on sale for $5 and up. <\/p>\n<p>But the real bonanza was in the men\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s department, where Fruit of the Loom, Hanes and other brand briefs, boxers and those hybrid boxer\/briefs line the shelves at prices ranging from two for $6 to five for $5. Clerks on duty declined to comment on the selection or the myth. <\/p>\n<p><strong>The bare facts <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So why do so many people have their panties in a wad over the availability of intimate apparel in our fair city? <\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not really about underwear,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d posits James Harris, the town\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s economic development director. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It started as a way of talking about the ability to get the things basic to life. People want to be able to buy a washer-dryer in Carrboro. Or a car. They want a big store that will bring us higher tax revenues. But those are big-ticket items, so they focus on something everyone can relate to \u00e2\u20ac\u201c like underwear.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<br \/>\nIn the end, it seems all that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s missing from Carrboro\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s underwear inventory is a sexy lingerie shop.<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There really is underwear available in Carrboro,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Harris says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153as long as you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not looking for anything exotic.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n<p><em>Ms. Ryan was not available for comment.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The bottom line<\/strong>:<br \/>\nWho says you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t buy underwear in Orange County? From low-end brands to designer fashions, these retailers have got your back(side):<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Chapel Hill Sportswear (E. Franklin St.) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Name brands for UNC fans of all ages;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Dillard\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (University Mall) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Name brands for ladies, men &#038; kids;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Dollar General (Carrboro Plaza) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Dixie Belle, Fruit of the Loom;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Fleet Feet (Carr Mill Mall) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Fitness under-layers by Champion;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Johnny T-shirt (E. Franklin St.) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Name brands for UNC fans of all ages;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Metropolis (University Mall) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Novelty boxers;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Night Gallery (University Mall) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Designer lingerie;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Plus Size Plum (Hillsborough) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Designer lingerie;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Rite-Aid (Timberlyne, Eastgate, Willow Creek) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Leggs and Hanes for women only;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Rose\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (University Mall) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Name brands for ladies, men, kids &#038; UNC fans of all ages;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 The Shrunken Head (E. Franklin St.) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Name brands for UNC fans of all ages<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Townsend Bertram &#038; Co.\t(Carr Mill Mall) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Fitness under-layers by Patagonia, Icebreakers, Exofficio;<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 UNC Student Stores (campus) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Name brands for UNC fans of all ages<br \/>\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 WalMart (Hillsborough) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Name brands for ladies, men &#038; kids<br \/>\nEditor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Note: Did we miss a local purveyor of intimate apparel? If so, drop a line with the name, address and inventory to Margot Lester at margot@carrborocitizen.com. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re keeping a list on the Orange County Housing and Economy blog (www.carrborocitizen.com\/housing).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Margot C. Lester Staff Writer You read it on message boards or overhear it being discussed at Weaver Street or the Open Eye. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a virulent meme that spread faster than the Andromeda Strain. In fact, Carrboro Board of Aldermen candidate Katrina Ryan mentioned it in this very paper: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The same residents in Carrboro&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[275,4,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-economy","category-news","category-top-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4310"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4312,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4310\/revisions\/4312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ibiblio.org\/carrborocitizen\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}