Store that famously fights 'plumber's butt' is opening stores in Arlington and Denton

Duluth Trading Company, known for its clever advertising that touts the comfort of its buck naked underwear and T-shirts that cover up "plumber's butt" is getting close to opening its first stores in Texas — in Arlington, Denton and Lubbock.

The company, based in Belleville, Wis., has started construction at 620 E. Interstate 20, across the freeway from the Arlington Highlands shopping center.

The developer of the project, Minneapolis-based Oppidan Investment Company, has posted details about the project on its website. The 15,536 square-foot store is being built on a 2.23-acre site on the south side of the interstate between South Center Street and South Collins Street.

Duluth Trading started as a mail-order company — its headquarters were on a barge in Duluth, Minn. — and has been steadily opening stores across the country. The company's website said the Longtail T-Shirt put Duluth Trading on the map in 2002. The shirt added an extra 3 inches in length to eliminate "plumber's butt."

The first standalone store opened in 2010 in Mount Horeb, Wis.

The closest store to Texas is in Independence, Mo., but stores in Denton and Lubbock are under construction and scheduled to open this spring.

The Arlington store is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2018. It will employ one store manager, one assistant manager and 35-40 associates, said Holly Dugan, a company spokeswoman.