So, if your wardrobe is lacking a certain color – and that would be almost unimaginable after the first week of classes – here are some retailers who bleed orange and blue.
The newest retailer in town is Alumni Hall. The store just celebrated its grand opening last week and is stocked to the ceiling with all manner of Wahoo wear, or “drip,” as the students might say. Hats, hoodies, polos, skirts, you name it, and it is probably in stock at 1141 Emmet St. North (in the Barracks Road Shopping Center).
Alumni Hall is a national retailer that opened in 2006 and has expanded to 32 stores mainly east of the Mississippi, including the franchise now in Charlottesville.
Closer to Grounds, Mincer’s University of Virginia Imprinted Sportswear, or simply Mincer’s, has been synonymous with UVA since 1948. It’s nearly a rite of passage for new Wahoos and their parents to peruse the sale rack on the sidewalk outside its location on the Corner and then wander inside to see what’s new this year. The family-owned retailer has opened a second store at 2015 Bond St., in the Shops at Stonefield.
Historians may note Mincer’s first arrived in Charlottesville as a smoke shop, selling pipes to students and faculty. The store evolved over time to sell school supplies, records and newspapers. In the 1970s, the store began a gradual switch to selling apparel. From then on, a trip to Mincer’s has meant leaving with an armful of UVA garb.
The UVA Bookstore is a convenient place to get your orange on, since it’s right on Grounds.
Yes, you can buy textbooks there, but most Hoos – especially the new and prospective Hoos on tours and visits – are there to pick up University swag. This year, you can even rep your favorite UVA athlete by getting custom-printed apparel in the store while you shop.
