UNDERWEAR ANGST ALLEVIATED

This article was published in the March 1, 2025 Edition. 

 It appears our era of underwear angst is coming to a close. 

Thank God. 

The Eastern Sierra’s perennial existential question, uttered like a Tibetan chant since the closure of JC Penney, Kmart and Rite Aid, has been “where am I gonna buy underwear?” Actually, the more accurate phrasing is, “where am I gonna buy cheap underwear?” That subtle difference will be addressed later. What will not be addressed is the local citizenry’s deep desire and unquenchable need for heaps of cheap underwear. Let your mind wander, if you must. 

When I read in the Feb. 14 Sheet that a Marshalls department store was moving into the vacant Rite Aid space, I was a bit suspicious. Every mall in America is sucking wind and has been for years with thousands of department and specialty stores shuttering or going bankrupt. Mom-and-pop main street stores have also been hammered primarily due to online shopping. So how in the world did Bishop land a national franchise department store? 

After a bit of online stalking, it all made perfect business sense since one brand’s failure opens the door to another brand’s success. 

But since Marshalls isn’t slated to open for at least a year, a more personal and immediate question needed to be addressed: Will your current array of underwear last for a year? I’m betting that in the bottom of many dresser drawers are some forgotten delicates purchased at the Bishop JC Penney many years ago, and a couple more from the deserted Kmart. Sort of an emergency stash of undies. They are probably a tad threadbare, so nothing to show off. That task should be handed off to the very stylish, colorful and comfy Patagonia underwear from Eastside Sports. Pricey, sure, but style isn’t cheap. In reality, most folks probably have made some underwear runs to Walmart to score the treasured array of “cheap underwear.” Those will probably tide folks over until Marshalls arrives. 

Fortunately, for those in an immediate underwear emergency, every outdoor/sporting goods store and clothing store from Mammoth to Lone Pine has some sort of undies or base layer. I know because I have done almost yearly stories based on personal surveys of underwear availability to counter the drama of the area’s “underwear shortage.” Oh, and don’t forget sharing with friends. Close friends. Friends with good washing machines. 

Now that has been addressed, onto some insights about Marshalls deciding to move into Bishop and the Eastern Sierra despite the small population and the departure of two, national general merchandise stores. 

Some background. Marshalls is owned by TJX Companies, which also owns TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Sierra. Marshalls stores typical merchandise mix includes men’s, women’s and kids’ clothes, shoes and home goods. 

The first news item of interest detailed how Marshalls opened a new store in Clear Lake, California, this past August. The telling detail: the Marshalls store was opening in a building that was recently vacated by Kmart. Another former Kmart being converted into a Marshalls is located in Lakeport in Sonoma County. Same story in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas and Maine and other states. 

Seems like a trend. 

Going into the trade journals, the May 23, 2024 issue of Retail Dive in this case, confirmed that trend. TJX CEO Ernie Herrman said the company expects to add about 140 new stores to its existing roster of about 4,900 stores. The company is taking advantage of the glut of empty retail space in the country caused by the closure of thousands of other retailers, from Macy’s to Kmart to Big Lots. Cheap rent and consumers looking for an affordable in-store experience is driving the company’s expansion, Herrman said. 

Marshalls, Retail Dive noted, is the “world’s largest” chain of off-price stores. Off-price means sort of inexpensive, but not bargain basement cheap. The chain swoops in and buys discontinued lines of clothes and merchandise, inventory overstock from manufactures or other retailers, cancelled orders for merchandise, and other “bulk buying” techniques. Ideally, that translates into lower prices for the consumer. 

So there’s hope, God willing, that the fever dream about having a pile of cheap undies just around the corner just might come true. 

Jon Klusmire of Bishop is hoping the arrival of Marshalls will put an end to his undercover underwear investigations