Students at Eastern Michigan University have been without a school spirit store since June 2025. Last week, that changed.
On Sept. 10, 2025, University Communications announced in an email to students and faculty the opening of Eagle Outfitters, an EMU spirit store that would occupy the space of the bookstore that closed its doors on June 30.
Eagle Outfitters will offer EMU merchandise such as apparel, mugs and school supplies. It will also be the pick-up location for online textbook purchases. The university's partnership with eCampus, an online textbook website, made way for the new spirit store, as written in a Nov. 11, 2025 University Communications email.
"Thanks to our partnership with eCampus, we've reimagined the old spirit store into something fresh, bold, and totally Eastern," the email stated.
While communications to students and faculty assured an astounding new school spirit experience, some students expressed a lackluster view on opening day.
EMU student LaNiece Gordy-Pulliam was unimpressed with the state of the store as it opened to the public.
"It's the same that it was last year, just more bare," Gordy-Pulliam said. "It feels like a doctor's office."
Grey Gardella made an appearance at Eagle Outfitters on opening day to check out what it had to offer. She studies interior design at EMU and said that immediately, alarm bells started ringing in her head.
"It doesn't entice people to come in ... there are only two mannequins, and there are no window displays," Gardella said. "I want to give them the benefit of the doubt; they did just open today."
Gordy-Pulliam suggested the use of art and marketing students at EMU to create and advertise more fashionable apparel that would attract customers. She expressed her lack of interest in buying the current apparel and was put-off by the mismatched styles that hung next to each other on the racks.
"They could utilize the design and marketing students for this," Gordy-Pulliam said. "Give them internships."
Kaleb Wieland, a student worker at Eagle Outfitters, has enjoyed this past week preparing Eagle Outfitters for its opening and is eager to see what else the store can offer.
"We're getting new shipments every day," Wieland said.
Wieland saw positive reactions from customers throughout the day as he opened boxes and displayed apparel around the store.
"People were definitely fascinated when they walked in," Wieland said. "Graduates are already getting their stuff."
Eagle Outfitters will celebrate their official grand opening in January, the University Communications department stated.
"The opening of Eagle Outfitters has been going exceptionally well, and we’re grateful for the enthusiastic feedback from customers. While some shelves may not have been fully stocked on day one, that’s simply because new Eagle gear is arriving daily and being added as quickly as possible," Melissa Thrasher wrote in a statement to The Echo.
Details about Eagle Outfitters' grand opening will come early next semester. In addition to new Eagle gear, the staff of Eagle Outfitters is excited about the forthcoming Born in Detroit collection, a collaboration that will feature EMU- and Ypsilanti-branded items.
Eagle Outfitters is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will also host special weekend hours for big campus events. The online store is available at emich.ecampus.com.
The eCampus bookstore can be accessed through My.Emich. Look for the Student Academic Services card, and scroll to the bottom to find the EMU Bookstore link.
