The name "London Underground" was also used by a chain of American stores specializing in "London Apparel" (in other words Doc Martens). For a while London Underground stores were the sole distributors of Doc Martens footware in the US, until there was a dispute between the chain and the footware company. Doc Martens, in an effort to boost sales through increased avilibility in the US started selling their footware in Nordstrom's apparel stores. London underground responded by discontinuing the relationship with Doc Martens and started selling it's own (inferior) knock-off brand. In 1999 the chain went bankrupt.