RIDLEY TOWNSHIP>> As soon as the official score was posted and the Philadelphia Eagles were named the national Super Bowl LII champions, the doors of Clothes Quarters in Folsom swung open so that the Super Bowl merchandise party could begin.
“We had about a thousand people inside the store last night,” smiled Clothes Quarters owner David Wiesen. “It was a big party.”
Wiesen said the store, located on MacDade Boulevard, remained open until about 2 a.m. when there was no more Super Bowl themed merchandise left. However, he said, store staff picked up more merchandise and reopened the doors at 8 a.m. Customers poured in steadily ever since.
He said thousands of shirts were sold Sunday night into Monday morning. The line snaked around the store, but moved quickly because he brought in 10 employees to handle the task.
“We sold out constantly on everything we carried for the past two weeks,” Wiesen stated. “We constantly revamp our inventory with new deliveries every few hours. It’s the same this week. We will be getting continuous new inventory, from short and long sleeve T-shirts to hoods, hats, scarves and more. By Wednesday, we will have even more different styles and designs and an assortment for the kids too. As soon as we get things in, they quickly move on out, but the new arrivals are constant.”
Melissa Bayle of Holmes was inside Clothes Quarters with daughter Jocelyn, 6, a student at Amosland Elementary School, and son Stephen, 14, a student at Ridley Middle School. After much celebrating Sunday night, Melissa took off from her job at Boeing’s Cafeteria and came to Clothes Quarters to pick up some Super Bowl shirts for the family to wear this week and beyond.
Wayne and Edith Crawford of Prospect Park were at Clothes Quarters looking for Eagles Super Bowl wear for their son.
“We’ve been to Dick’s and Modell’s already today,” Wayne said as Edith perused the racks full of merchandise. “We like Clothes Quarters because they carry the larger sizes and have stuff that the other stores did not have. My wife has been a good customer of this store ever since they were in MacDade Mall. All three stores are pretty competitive on price.”
David Marofsky of Woodlyn came into Clothes Quarters with son Andrew, 12, to pick out a new hat.
“I already got a championship shirt,” Andrew said as he smiled proudly.
Jessie and Jordyn Scott, former residents of Philadelphia who now reside in Desoto, Texas stopped by Clothes Quarters on their way back to the Lone Star State to pick up shirts and flags to bring home. He had tried to find the flags at other stores, but they were sold out so he was thrilled to get some at Clothes Quarters. Dad Jessie said they came back up to Philadelphia because they wanted to watch the Super Bowl with family.
“Because we lived here, we’re Eagles fans,” Scott explained. “As soon as they made it to the Super Bowl, I knew that I wanted to be in Philly for the game and all the excitement.”
Over at Modell’s sporting goods in Clifton Heights, hundreds were gathered in and outside the store. The line began outside and snaked around the perimeter of the inside store on Monday. According to customers asked, waits lasted from 30-60 minutes at most points throughout the day.
General Manager Devona Moussouris said Modell’s opened as soon as they announced the Philadelphia Eagles as the official champs on Sunday night and remained open until 2:30 a.m. Monday morning when the merchandise was depleted. The shelves were restocked and the doors opened at 5 a.m. on Monday morning. Customers came in record numbers all day long until the 9:30 p.m. closing time.
Moussouris said the crowds have been peaceful, most customers still reeling in the afterglow of Sunday night’s championship Eagles win. With at least 25 employees on the floor Monday and at the registers, the buying and selling process seemed to be flowing smoothly.
“Sales are great,” Moussouris said cheerfully. “Everyone is pumped.”
Moussouris and staff were waiting for company head Mitch Modell, who was expected to visit the store Monday afternoon. Modell, who owns 150 stores, was stopping by to thank staff and customers for making the Clifton Heights location the store with the highest volume of sales. Along with Modell, the store had another unexpected visitor. Sports radio personality/Fox 29 sports anchor Howard Eskin stopped by to pick up some Super Bowl merchandise as well.
Asked what the best-selling Eagles items have been since the Super Bowl victory, Moussouris said it was the locker room T-shirts. She said other very popular sellers have been the jerseys of specific players, as well as Super Bowl hoodies, long and short sleeve T-shirts, warm hats and caps, and fleece jackets. She said the mens T-shirts come in at least five different styles. Trucks arrive every few hours, Moussouris stated.
T-shirts at both Modell’s and Clothes Quarters seem to fall in the $25-$35 range.
Lindsey Morrow of Broomall was leaving Modell’s Monday afternoon, with a bag full of sweatshirts, T-shirts and pennants. The merchandise was purchased after a 40 minute wait, she stated. Morrow said that she is all ready for the parade on Thursday and plans on catching the train into the city about 5 a.m. to secure a good viewing spot on the parade route. Drexel Hill resident Casey McGee came to Modell’s with her mother and sister Molly to buy some shirts in celebration of the win. The sisters dug side-by-side on the tables full of choices until they scored the shirts they wanted and then braved the end of the lengthy line. Adhamol Mehar of Philadelphia, arms laden with shirts, stood patiently in line in front of Sheree Arnold of Southwest Philadelphia who was also quietly awaiting with three shirts, ready to be purchased. This was her second trip to Modell’s on Monday. She had already been to Modell’s on Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia, she said, but did not get everything she wanted so she came to the Delaware County location.
“This was worth the wait,” Arnold said as she held up her shirts after waiting in a 45-minute-long line. “I’m all ready now for Thursday’s parade!”
Aldan residents Kyle Muldoon, Nicole Aaron and her son Sean Greim, 6, picked out their swag for Thursday’s Super Bowl Championship Parade in Philadelphia.
“We can’t wait,” Aaron said while waiting in the line for over half an hour.
General Manager Moussouris said that she expects a crowd all week, considering the excitement and thrill of the Philadelphia Eagles win. The store will open earlier than usual, but will continue to close at its usual 9:30 p.m. closing time.
“It may taper off a little on Thursday during the parade, but we expect it to pick right back up for the weekend,” she said, smiling. “After all, we are talking about an Eagles Super Bowl win!”
