Stocking Up : The Hosiery Depot in Northridge is a great place to get deals on hosiery and lingerie. It’s better and cheaper than its predecessor.

The cluster of outlets, discounters and off-price retailers on Business Center Drive in Northridge bears re-examining from time to time. Things change. Some familiar stores are gone and new ones have arrived, but other changes are less visible. Recently, I dropped into a hosiery store there--formerly called The Hosiery Outlet--and discovered that it is under new management and has become The Hosiery Depot.

Since my last visit, the prices are lower. There are fewer off-brands and more well-known labels. Owner-manager David Herrera said Hosiery Depot is a Miami-based family business that re-acquired this particular store from a former franchisee. The merchandise consists of hosiery, lingerie and exercise wear at 30% to 50% off regular retail.

For those who want to save on major-brand hosiery (and don’t want to make a trip to Barstow to the Hanes outlet or downtown to Beverly Hills Hosiery), this is the spot. Evan-Picone, Round-the-Clock, Burlington, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Calvin Klein, Hanes, Berkshire, Donna Karan and Isotoner are all represented in the bins of “select imperfects” at 40% to 50% under retail.

The term select imperfects means either a misaligned top seam or a color that is off from the standard. There is absolutely no viewable flaw. Sizes run from petite to queen, and a good selection of colors is available. Knee-highs were 99 cents. Herrera promises continuity in the hosiery inventory, so customers can get their favorite hose on a regular basis.

Aerobics enthusiasts will be pleased with the savings on exercise tights. These are The Hosiery Depot’s private label and are made of 89% nylon and 11% Lycra. From an average retail price of $7, deduct $4.01 for the dynamite price of $2.49 per pair. These tights are all first quality--no irregulars--and come in a variety of colors.

Baryshnikov leotards--popular with professional dancers--sell at one sports discounter in town for $17.99, but at The Hosiery Depot expect to pay only $12.99. These are also first quality. (The only irregulars in the store appear in the hosiery.)

You’ll also find some excellent values in the bra department. Best Form, Lily of France, Christian Dior and Playboy are represented on the racks in sizes 32 to 44, and the prices are about of half of retail. All the bras I checked were less than $10.

This is a tidy and well-organized store, a vast improvement over a year or so ago. Herrera, a member of the owner family, recently arrived from Florida and settled in Southern California to see that this location operates at a good clip.

Service, selection and price are the keywords here.

WHERE TO SHOP

Location: The Hosiery Depot.

Where: 19410 Business Center Drive, Northridge.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Credit cards: MasterCard and Visa.

Call: (818) 885-6331.