"Cum-Park Plaza is located in Burlington, North Carolina. You can see an image of this sign via Google Street View here

While this plaza’s name may have certain NSFW (“not safe for work”) connotations for some, this name actually refers to the two people who developed the plaza in the 1960s: Carl Parks and Hugh Cummings, who were brothers-in-law. Neighboring Cummings High School is named for Cummings, who donated land for the school.

Cumtown

What’s easily forgotten is the milestone the collection of shops and businesses represented when the center opened in August 1963. Long before Tanger Outlets, Alamance Crossing or, even, Holly Hill Mall, Cum-Park presented buyers an alternative to downtown shopping, to stores that closed at 5 p.m., to paid parking.

15 minute, walkable cum

“On Friday nights, especially, the stores were packed,” Parks said. “They had to have police officers directing traffic, there were so many people trying to get in.”

Carl Parks died in 2010. Cummings passed in 1984. Carl Parks’ wife, Dorothy, and Cummings’ wife, Rebecca, are sisters. Both women are still alive.

RIP Carl, Cum, & Co