Scrubs spoken here.

Byline: Joe Mosley The Register-Guard

In a city where health care is rapidly becoming the dominant industry, a pair of new mothers has recognized a niche in the making.

For scrubs. And no, they're not limited to pastel blue or green anymore.

Hula B's - at 603 E. 13th Ave., just around the corner from Sacred Heart Medical Center - offers medical uniforms from a variety of manufacturers, and in styles ranging from the basic V-neck smock to lightweight blazers with matching pants.

"It's become extremely trendy to wear scrubs, thanks to some of the TV shows, like 'Gray's Anatomy' and 'Scrubs,' " says Christina Hula, who opened the store last month with Robyn Jackson.

"In fact, two guys came in the other day because they are going to be characters from 'Scrubs' (for Halloween)," Hula says.

She and Jackson met by chance last year in a linguistics class at the University of Oregon. They sat next to each other and soon realized that both were pregnant. Eventually, in discussing their plans for the future, the two decided to open a scrubs shop together after their babies were born earlier this year.

But the store idea wasn't exactly a shot in the dark - Jackson's mother has opened a scrubs shop in Texas.

"We're not in health care, but both of our moms were nurses," Jackson says.

And they also realized there was plenty of room for their specialty store in a growing market with just one other retailer dedicated to medical apparel. Life Uniform, at 1011 Valley River Way, Suite 112, is part of a national chain whose Web site boasts "several hundred" locations throughout the United States.

"It's been fantastic," Jackson says. "Everyone that walks in the door is extremely happy there's a (new) scrubs shop in town."

Hula B's drew from each of the partners for its name - Christina Hula's last name and the first initial of Jackson's daughter, Bela.

Jackson says she and Hula spent about $50,000 on inventory, equipment and minor updates to their leased, 1,400-square-foot space at the corner of 13th Avenue and Patterson Street.

They are confident that their investment will continue to pay off even after PeaceHealth - their landlord - opens its new hospital across town in the Gateway area of Springfield.

"We think that it will actually stimulate more business, because of the jobs it's creating," Jackson says. "We have enough of a customer base that it won't hurt, and it will probably help. We're still right in the middle of the medical district."

The pair also is considering adding a second location near the new PeaceHealth site.

A few departments at the hospital supply sterile scrubs to their employees but, for the most part, all other workers must buy their own, Jackson says.

And the customer base at Hula B's has already grown to include health care professionals ranging from dentists to veterinary assistants.

"We are very, very careful about which lines we carry, and which manufacturers," Jackson says. "We're real big on things being able to last. And if people don't see what they want here, we go out and find it."

The store offers after-hours "scrubs parties" for entire offices of employees or groups of friends to shop together, and specializes in ordering items that can't be kept in stock. It also carries a line of Egyptian belly dance costumes and supplies - a nod to Hula, who belly dances professionally.

"It's not our main thing, just a very small part of what we do," she says. "I dance, so I've always been around belly dance costumes."

Hula B's is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Jackson and Hula operate the business by themselves, along with baby daughters Bela and Meridian, and Jackson's husband, Greg.

Retail Notebook runs on Fridays. Joe Mosley can be reached at 338-2384 or [e-mail].