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Business & Tech

Alfred's Provides Vintage Line With Modern Spirit

Sport shop owner busy designing everything from T-shirts to websites.

Chuck Bleakley is a born retailer. He owned a small chain of eyeglass stores and sold it, spent time on Wall Street and other businesses.

But he missed retail like an athlete without his (or her) gear. Two years ago, he bought , a venerable Main Street retailer. Since then, he hasn’t stood still for a moment.

"I’m a retailer at heart,” he said, his cell phone attached to his ear.

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This year, he’s carrying his own vintage line of Madison sweatshirts. That’s right, his own. And they’re selling like anything.

“They’re very hot for me.” he said. The adult men's, fleeced-lined and hooded, come in gray, black or maroon and sell for $69.99; ladies’ French terry is cut for women and the Madison emblem is embroidered.

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Another hot item is Bleakley’s thermal crew with vintage artwork at $39.99. The regular Madison sweats and sweatshirts are also available. To keep you warm in the stadium, he has maroon vintage blankets at $34.99.

Bleakley doesn’t stop at designing his own vintage line. He’ll design a website like the new Madison hoops one and offers custom-made T-shirts on view at the back wall for any sport.

“You pick out the T-shirt, pick out the artwork and I’ll get it done the same day," he said.

For Christmas, the whole store is there for the young (and older) athlete.

Hockey?

“We have a full line of hockey gear that Alfred’s never had before, sticks, skates and all of the gear,“ he said. Plus, he can sharpen skates for $8.

Lacrosse?

In December, he will have available several designs with the Madison or Chatham logo that he can print for besides a rack that are ready to made. Each design in three or four color ways has a print that incorporates the state of New Jersey.

“Anybody can sell you just a basic pair of lacrosse shorts," Bleakley said.

“What I think separates me from Dick’s, we are no more expensive and when you walk into Alfred’s, we make sure your child gets the right size," Bleakley said. "Our staff is very knowledgeable.”

For more information, call 973-377-0051. Alfred's is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

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