Story and photo by Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau
Lopes Up, shoppers! The Grand Canyon University Lope Shop opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday, but even before the doors to the newest Lopes Way business swung open, more than 20 people were lined up outside, said Andy Dunn, campus stores director.
“I told them, ‘Welcome to your new Lope Shop,’’’ Dunn said. “It’s been rocking and rolling ever since.”
Within the first half hour, student workers rang up more than $500 in sales, said Shelly Schrimpf, operations manager.
“We’ve already had to restock,” Schrimpf said.
More than a dozen students milled about the shop, browsing the T-shirts, mugs, hats, dog leashes, baby bibs, notebooks, lanyards and the more than 1,200 pieces of merchandise on the shelves. The new store is a dramatic improvement over the old GCU Book Store, several shoppers said.
“I’m very impressed,” said C.J. Brooks, a freshman. “It’s very clean. It’s a big step up.”
Freshman Andrew Okonkwo was deciding between a black, white or gray GCU T-shirt. “I like it a lot,” he said. “It’s way bigger than the (GCU) Team Shop. More variety.”
Nick Louden, a junior, said there seemed to be a lot more apparel. “I feel like there’s new stuff,” Louden said.
Shaye Higa, a freshman, looked longingly at the hoodies. “I’m going to come back and get one,” Higa said. “It reminds me of a varsity jacket.”
Tanner Love, a sophomore, was picking out a shirt that read “GCU Mom” for his mother. “She’d like it,” Love said.
The managers hoped opening day would make $25,000 in sales, the amount the Team Shop took in Aug. 17, the first day of Welcome Week.
When asked what was selling the most, Dunn joked, “not notebooks.” This was the item that Schrimpf had predicted would fly fastest off the shelves. The most popular items?
“The shirts, any shirts. Also the mugs and water bottles,” said sophomore Ashlee Coates, a Lope Shop worker.
Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or [email protected].
