Worth the Trip : These two spots are in downtown L.A., but the garments--from sport to dress-up--put the parking fees in perspective.

In researching and writing this column, I try to keep to the San Fernando Valley. But occasionally there is such a fantas tic deal out of the Valley that I would feel remiss if the tip wasn’t passed on. Today’s subjects are in downtown Los Angeles. Yes, I know how you feel about the drive and the parking rates, but this is definitely worth $8 for parking and the aggravation on the 101. You also get two great bargain haunts in one stop.

H & H Jobbing Co., a purveyor of active sports apparel for men and women, is on the second floor of an old building in the garment district; Ladies Apparel Inc., which sells upscale dresses and suits for women, is on the ground floor. Both are owned by Michael Eisenberg and his father, Jules Eisenberg.

When Michael was a toddler, he used to crawl around his dad’s store, and as he grew older, would help out wherever he could. When the time came for young Michael to establish his career, his father’s expertise and enthusiasm for the apparel industry made for an easy decision: Michael would take the space over Dad’s store and make it a joint venture. So father runs Ladies Apparel Inc., and son runs H & H Jobbing. One reason they can keep prices down is that Dad owns the building.

Some of the labels cannot be divulged, but those at H & H that can be mentioned are Flim, Ellesse, Nordica, Belfe/Postcard and Colmar. The inventory consists of skiing, tennis and golf apparel, much of which serves as everyday wear for many Californians. The discounts range from 40% to 70% off retail.

A Nordica ski parka, for instance, that many stores have sold for $300 or more is part of a buyout that young Eisenberg made so he could sell it for $99.95--and still make a profit.

The bargains are just as good at Ladies Apparel Inc., where there’s a huge selection of suits, dressy suits and one of the largest inventories of wool coats and raincoats in Southern California. Labels such as Nippon Boutique, George Simonton, Nolan Miller, Jack Bryan, Kasper 2, Oleg Cassini and Karen Lawrence are on the racks. A Cativa velvet jacket (retail $325) was tagged at $169 and matching pants at $79.96 (retail $155).

Between the two stores, there’s something for the sports crowd or the dinner club set.

Where to Shop Location: H & H Jobbing Co., Ladies Apparel Inc., 840 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Credit Cards: MasterCard and Visa. Call: H & H Jobbing Co. (213) 627-6861; Ladies Apparel Inc. (213) 622-5563.