As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, Derrick Morgan, co-owner of The Monkey’s Uncle in Doylestown, knew that in-store social distancing wouldn’t work. 

The shop’s footprint was too small. 

So rather than close, he moved, as reported to Tracy Davidson for NBC10. 

Morgan described The Monkey’s Uncle as “…a retro, vintage-inspired t-shirt boutique.” Its specialty is throwback Phillies sports gear. “Old Phillies gear in powder-blue and maroon, old TastyKake shirts,” he elaborated. Also Flyers and Eagles gear from yesteryear. 

In a business necessary change-up, Morgan got creative. 

“[The pandemic] really did kind of force us to think outside the box,” he said. “We moved from a 600-sq.-ft. space store to a 1,500-sq.-ft. space store at 123 South Main Street in Doylestown. 

“And now, it allowed us to have three times the number of customers in person.” 

The extra room also came with expanded parking, facilitating curbside pickup of online orders. 

Now, sales are batting a thousand.  

“Knock on wood, it’s paid off for us financially,” Morgan assessed. “We’re excited and kind of pinching ourselves that we have this substantially larger space, and we’re able to really serve our customers so much better.” 

More on this story, including Morgan’s thoughts on the value small businesses bring to their communities, is at NBC10.