ELIZABETHTOWN — As parents prepare to send their children back to school, one of the important items on the list will be school uniforms — and Leinwand’s has gone all in.

“We carry the uniforms year-round,” said Ricky Leinwand. “You’re either in it, or out of it … and we are in it.”

Leinwand said this is the third year the store has offered school uniforms.

“Since we do it year-round and we’re in it big-time, it took a lot of space,” said Leinwand.

He said they owned the store next door where his son-in-law Morgan Mehler had his law practice for a time. Leinwand said that, recently, the store was being used for storage space and it was decided to separate the uniforms from the rest of the store and create a section just for them.

“The problem was there was an 18-inch firewall separating us,” said Leinwand.

He said a crew carefully created an entrance from the interior of Leinwand’s and the school uniform department was born.

“It just makes it more convenient,” said Leinwand of the department.

He said the uniforms are now better organized and added they have all the colors for all of the schools with sizes from primary school up through high school. He said they have skirts, pants, shorts, shirts, and dresses — as well as sweaters and jackets.

“What give parents the advantage here is we have a better selection and great prices,” said Leinwand.

He also said that the store can make alterations, if necessary, as well as take special orders.

Other stores also have their supplies of school uniforms in stock, as well.

Karen Suggs of Fisher’s Men’s and Ladies Store, said, “There are plenty (of uniforms).”

She said they have all sizes and all the required school colors to choose from. Suggs said they have pants and boys and girls polo shirts in stock. She added they also have shorts in stock as well.

Suggs said they have uniform sizes ranging from a kids size 6 up to an adult XXL.

Natasha Jones, a manager with the Elizabethtown Walmart said they, too, have a large selection of school uniforms in all sizes for both boys and girls as well as misses and men’s sizes.

“We have all the colors for schools in the surrounding area as well as here locally,” said Jones.

She added the store also has a wide variety of skorts, jumper dresses, capris and shirts as well as jackets for both boys and girls. Jones said they have uniforms for all primary, elementary and high schools.

Jones said the store also has sweatshirts and hoodies with the East Bladen High and West Bladen High logos.

Uniforms for Bladen County Schools students can also be purchased at Sign Logic in Elizabethtown.

Parents can find information regarding the appropriate uniform colors and vendors at the Bladen County Schools website at http://www.bladen.k12.nc.us/parents/school-uniforms.

Erin Smith can be reached at 910-862-4163.

W. Curt Vincent|Bladen Journal Leinwand’s in downtown Elizabethtown recently created a school uniform shop next to the department store on West Broad Stret.
http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Leinwands2.jpgW. Curt Vincent|Bladen Journal Leinwand’s in downtown Elizabethtown recently created a school uniform shop next to the department store on West Broad Stret.

Erin Smith

erinsmith@civitasmedia.com