Back to Campus with Cameron Village

Back to Campus 2019

If you feel it getting cooler in September here in Raleigh, it’s not the weather. It’s the college students who are all back in town and upping the cool factor here in the Capital City. 

At Cameron Village we love when we can help students find the perfect thing to wear to cheer on their team or the right bag to haul books across campus. We welcome them as they grab a bite to eat with their friends between classes. From dorm decor to tailgate preps, we have what college students want to make this semester the coolest yet. 

Spirit! Let’s hear it!

Before gameday, there is one place to get what you need to show you back the Pack. Alumni Hall has the best in Wolfpack spirit wear. Assistant Manager Aaron Mull says it’s busy before Saturday. “A lot of students coming in for game day supplies. T-shirts. A lot of jersey sales.” 

Mull hangs women’s crop tops at Alumni Hall.

Mull says NC State students want artwork of Carter-Finley stadium or posters for their dorms and apartments. He points students to popular Yeti cups and tumblers to take coffee on the go. Of course, you need to look good on campus too. “For women crop tops have been a big item here. There are sweatshirts that are going fast too. They’re preparing for cooler weather.” 

Ultimately, when it comes to heading back to campus for the fall semester, all things come back to football. Mull points to clear bags popular on game days, “We have a whole assortment of stadium bags!” 

Academic Accessories

Pick any day of the week since classes have started and Light Years Sales Associate Rachel Cartledge says you’ll find students looking for jewelry and accessories. She pulls a pair of “Huggie Hoops” off of a sparkly display, “I probably sell ten pairs of these a day.” Cartledge says tiny necklaces and big hoops make a statement on campus. “Big, fun hoops, star shaped hoops. Anything with a star on it is super popular right now.” 

L: Cartledge shows a necklace with tiny star charms. R: She wears the popular Huggie Hoops

Students looking for room decor come to Light Years every day for trendy wall decorations or home accessories. Cartledge says as they make new friends, her store is the perfect place for students to find gifts. “A lot of sorority women come in and buy gifts for their littles and bigs. There are socks and magnets. Coffee mugs and tea infusers.” 

Trendy Llama and Sloth home decor at Light Years

Campus Gear

College kids trek a long way with a lot of books and gear. The hunt for the perfect backpack ends at Great Outdoor Provision Company. Sales Associate, MacKenzie Smith says Patagonia and The North Face backpacks are the bags students want the most.

“The North Face ones have been really popular. They have really thick and squishy back support for when you’re lugging around your laptop. They have lots of pockets. North Face has a great warranty. They’ll fix it or totally replace it if something were to break on it. They last forever. They have a lot of great colors this year.” 

L: Smith hangs Patagonia backpacks R: One of The North Face backpacks for 2019

Brain Food

Students on a study break can always grab a quick bite in Cameron Village between classes. Many of our fast casual restaurants see lots of students for lunch during the week. CAVA has quickly become a favorite spot for healthy options for students. With salads, seasonal veggies and soups on the menu, junk food won’t slow students down. 

Prepping to tailgate for a Saturday home game? Village Deli & Grill specializes in local ingredients for the freshest sandwiches and wraps. Their catering staff can have their famous lunch boxes or sandwich trays ready for football fans. 

NCSU students Christin and Cayley Kennedy enjoy lunch at CAVA in Cameron Village on a Tuesday.

Wait. Which team?

Back at Alumni Hall, in the store window where we’re used to only seeing the red and white of the Wolfpack, we spotted another color. A lighter shade of blue, often an unwelcome sight at NC State. Hull explains, “A lot of our UNC fans in the area are happy to know it’s here. They don’t have to travel all the way to Chapel Hill.” He says with a smile, “We do get a little backlash from State fans.” 

We’re cool with it, except on game day. Stay cool this semester and welcome back, students! 

UNC gear at Alumni Hall