I will be visiting Dekalb/Sycamore area for work for the first time in a long time and am looking to restock my wardrobe with NIU gear because I have lost weight and nothing fits me anymore. I've tried buying stuff online but it's either way overpriced or trash quality.

With VCB closed what are some good options? Walmart, Target, the main bookstore???

The NIU bookstore in HSC is basically the only option for nice, quality NIU gear DeKalb.

(05-13-2022 07:09 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  The NIU bookstore in HSC is basically the only option for nice, quality NIU gear DeKalb.

I agree. VCB's closing left a BIG hole in DeKalb for good NIU merchandise. Just another thing that NIU is lacking.

I heard you cannot find any NIU rain panchos in DeKalb.

(05-13-2022 01:46 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  I heard you cannot find any NIU rain panchos in DeKalb.

I've got a few stocked away somewhere. They will probably all be used during our first home game.

The Official NIU bookstore is nice. But a lot of the stuff looks plain. The VCB was overpriced, but they had some cool unique items.

(05-13-2022 02:15 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  The Official NIU bookstore is nice. But a lot of the stuff looks plain. The VCB was overpriced, but they had some cool unique items.

I have found the NIU bookstore to be small with limited inventory. Good quality items, but, very limited selections.

(05-13-2022 02:47 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 02:15 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  The Official NIU bookstore is nice. But a lot of the stuff looks plain. The VCB was overpriced, but they had some cool unique items.

I have found the NIU bookstore to be small with limited inventory. Good quality items, but, very limited selections.

Nothing says school pride like a very limited selection.

(05-13-2022 03:27 PM)niu16 Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 02:47 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 02:15 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  The Official NIU bookstore is nice. But a lot of the stuff looks plain. The VCB was overpriced, but they had some cool unique items.

I have found the NIU bookstore to be small with limited inventory. Good quality items, but, very limited selections.

Nothing says school pride like a very limited selection.

I was also getting tired of VCB's stuff. The inventory was infrequently refreshed, and I was tired of seeing the same things year after year. I think this may be due to a limitation of the licensing. I always seemed to find something at VCB, but it was not always exciting.

https://www.fanatics.com/northern-illino...gJjI_D_BwE

https://vintagebrand.com/a/12619/p/26?gc...wE&sku=191

https://campuswardrobe.com/collections/n...ty-huskies

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/c/nor...parel-gear

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=niu+merchandi...g3gvgrge_e

The NIU bookstore is decent, that company (Follett Corporation) should maybe open a second small gear/clothing-only store in the mall where the VCB was?

1) Follett needs to provide a little better selection for NIU, and needs to keep all sizes in stock
2) The VCB strip mall needs to be replaced, maybe Pappas can come in and do a 3-story brick with 16 pre-furnished apartments and quality commercial units on the first floor?

(05-15-2022 07:19 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  The NIU bookstore is decent, that company (Follett Corporation) should maybe open a second small gear/clothing-only store in the mall where the VCB was?

1) Follett needs to provide a little better selection for NIU, and needs to keep all sizes in stock
2) The VCB strip mall needs to be replaced, maybe Pappas can come in and do a 3-story brick with 16 pre-furnished apartments and quality commercial units on the first floor?

Please……retail yes, but no more apartments in the area!

(05-15-2022 08:26 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(05-15-2022 07:19 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  The NIU bookstore is decent, that company (Follett Corporation) should maybe open a second small gear/clothing-only store in the mall where the VCB was?

1) Follett needs to provide a little better selection for NIU, and needs to keep all sizes in stock
2) The VCB strip mall needs to be replaced, maybe Pappas can come in and do a 3-story brick with 16 pre-furnished apartments and quality commercial units on the first floor?

Please……retail yes, but no more apartments in the area!

Tbh, that area does need new apartments but it also has to tear down existing ones (or completely gut and refurbish them).

Many of those apartments have been there for a long time and don't have the kinds of amenities and/or arrangements that other towns and cities are able to provide.

If you want enrollment to increase, you can't have a bunch of apartments all over that were built in the 60s and look like they were last updated in 1998.

Really, if a person wants an apartment (ie, non-university living), the University Plaza is the most updated and attractive option.

Granted, I'm saying this with basically zero research in the area. Maybe some of those apartments have been updated adequately. But, from what I've seen and read and based on the stories of how college students aren't the ones living there, then I'm probably going to make an assumption as to the overall quality of the apartments.

Plus, I'm pretty sure the same buildings that were there in the late 90s when I was there are still the options that are available (or at least the majority of options).

If you want to support a local business, check out Chilton's Sporting Goods at 248 E. Lincoln Highway. Last time I was in there (year or two ago) they had a pretty nice selection of NIU stuff--not mind-blowing, but decent. Side benefit: I believe it's right between El Jimador Mexican restaurant (excellent!) and Byer's microbrewery (also excellent). Shop, grab carry out at Jimador, bring it down to Byer's and have a microbrew with your burrito! And thanks for all the links niu16. Love the vintagebrand.com site.

(05-13-2022 03:27 PM)niu16 Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 02:47 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 02:15 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  The Official NIU bookstore is nice. But a lot of the stuff looks plain. The VCB was overpriced, but they had some cool unique items.

I have found the NIU bookstore to be small with limited inventory. Good quality items, but, very limited selections.

Nothing says school pride like a very limited selection.

(05-13-2022 03:40 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 03:27 PM)niu16 Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 02:47 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(05-13-2022 02:15 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  The Official NIU bookstore is nice. But a lot of the stuff looks plain. The VCB was overpriced, but they had some cool unique items.

I have found the NIU bookstore to be small with limited inventory. Good quality items, but, very limited selections.

Nothing says school pride like a very limited selection.

I was also getting tired of VCB's stuff. The inventory was infrequently refreshed, and I was tired of seeing the same things year after year. I think this may be due to a limitation of the licensing. I always seemed to find something at VCB, but it was not always exciting.

It's not the same stuff year after year, it's called vintage. Where else can you get your wife a pair of NIU leg warmers?

(05-15-2022 09:22 AM)HW58 Wrote:  If you want to support a local business, check out Chilton's Sporting Goods at 248 E. Lincoln Highway. Last time I was in there (year or two ago) they had a pretty nice selection of NIU stuff--not mind-blowing, but decent. Side benefit: I believe it's right between El Jimador Mexican restaurant (excellent!) and Byer's microbrewery (also excellent). Shop, grab carry out at Jimador, bring it down to Byer's and have a microbrew with your burrito! And thanks for all the links niu16. Love the vintagebrand.com site.

I like Chilton’s a lot because it’s an old fashioned sporting goods store.

The problem with NIU is that there is not much exciting out there. Nothing unique like I see for other schools. One thing I saw that I always liked is a school logo keychain that played the school fight song at the push of a button.

I'd buy a keychain like that! Maybe I'm biased (aren't we all on this board), but I think NIU's fight song is one of the best.

The Athletic Department seems to either be overprotective about NIU and the logos/brand or just doesn't know how to partner with athletic brand companies. There are FCS schools that have more apparel/product variety available on the internet and in stores than us.

The DeKalb Walmart and the Meijer in Sycamore have some NIU apparel. Not overwhelming, but it is there