Went to look at the online selection for Bobcat Depot tonight and got a site under construction message. I've only been connected to OU for about 20 years so this is the first substantial gear store I ever remember the university operating.

I have always found it interesting that Ohio University does not operate its own bookstore similar to other universities.

Has there been one in place in the past that ultimately folded? Does the university prefer to give the business opportunities to local shops?

Just curious what the background might be here.

I love College Bookstore and buy the bulk of my Bobcat gear from them and glad to support a local business. Parting with hundreds of dollars to them every quarter as a student, not so much. :)

The term "bookstore" is really becoming passe at most universities. Most things are available online, either as ebooks or through next-day shipping. Very few textbooks in campus bookstores anymore. One reason why Follette's went out. They and College have always been the two bookstores of choice for students. College is now mostly apparel, trinkets, composition books and notebooks.

I think the Depot website has been "under construction" for more than a year. It's like the 70/71 interchanges in downtown Columbus -- perpetually populated with orange barrels.

I used to like visiting Specialty Books.

Universitees has a lot of interesting stuff in their store, but not online.

As far as Bobcat Depot or whatever its original name was, it always seemed like
O.U. treated it as an "after thought".