THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609250125
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 40 lines
The name of Old Navy Clothing Co. appears on radios, compact discs, mugs, notebooks and many other items as well as the casual apparel and shoes displayed in the firm's new store in the Greenbrier MarketCenter.
Putting its name in the forefront is an integral part of the company's theme of ``making shopping fun again.''
``We have fun clothes and fun accessories and gadgets,'' said Old Navy spokesman Joe Enos. ``It's something to make the store unique and the shopping experience fun.''
The 14,000-square-foot site opened Sept. 19 at 1322 Greenbrier Parkway. The location is the second Old Navy store in South Hampton Roads, preceded by a site opened in Norfolk's Janaf Shopping Center last year.
Old Navy, a division of Gap Inc., offers casual wear for the entire family. About 80 percent of the inventory sells for $25 or less.
``It's cheaper here than at places at the mall,'' said 21-year-old shopper Greg G. Bryant of Chesapeake. ``It's like a very much less expensive Gap.''
Virginia Beach residents Debbie L. Hedgepeth and daughter Angela used to shop at the Janaf store until the closer Chesapeake site opened.
``They have inexpensive clothes that last a long time,'' said Angela M. Hedgepeth, 18. ``The clothes are casual but stylish and not too preppie.''
The Old Navy name was coined when a Gap executive saw the words on a building in Europe. Gap communications director Beverly Butler said the name captures the ``fun and style'' of the clothing.
Store manager K. Paige Young said the new site tried to have a ``quiet opening'' to let customers get a feel for the store before the official grand opening Oct. 5.
``We said we'd have a quiet opening, but business already is great,'' Young said. ``The area around here is just booming.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Store manager K. Paige Young said the store tried to have a ``quiet
opening'' to let customers get a feel for the store. by CNB