Finding your go-to restaurant, gym, study spot and coffee shop is all a part of adjusting to college. However, something that often goes unnoticed is finding your go-to shopping spot. When you go to college, you live in the town your school is in for months on end, and it’s essential to find basic spots in your college town that provide you with joy like the ones you may have grown to love from your hometown.
Over my time in college, I’ve easily familiarized myself with my favorite place to get a sushi roll and my favorite spot to sit outside at. On another note, I can’t deny that I am addicted to shopping. You’d think finding my go-to shopping spot would be at the top of my priority list, but the truth is, I’ve always struggled to find one in Gainesville.
Many people assume that at school there is nowhere to shop, and they resort to online shopping. As beneficial as online shopping can be, in-person shopping will always have that try-on aspect that online shopping lacks. As much as I love online shopping, I constantly find myself ordering and returning different items, and the whole process just doesn’t do the trick for me.
It took me a while, but after thorough exploring and experimenting, I found my Gainesville shopping spot: the Oaks Mall.
I’ve always loved shopping malls, even as a kid, because they are so much easier for going from store to store when they are all in one general place. Plus, who doesn’t love browsing? But over time, I almost forgot I had the ability to go to a mall. Online shopping took over my mind, big time.
Gainesville allowed for my love of the traditional mall to return. Oaks Mall is just as good as your typical hometown mall, if not better – and here are some of my favorite spots!
- PacSun
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PacSun has always been one of my favorite stores, and there isn’t one near my hometown, which is what initially got me through the Oaks Mall doors. PacSun provides its shoppers with cheap yet fashionable clothing. There are such a wide range of colors and styles of clothes, but I specifically love the PacSun style because it is simple, and sometimes, with fashion, less is more. I love piecing together my different items from PacSun to create a trendy outfit.
- Forever 21
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Forever 21 is well known for budget-friendly and fun clothing. I know that when I walk into Forever 21, I’ll always walk out feeling successful and with a bright yellow bag in hand– or two. Don’t judge me! It’s hard not to walk out with piles of clothing! Forever 21 is also the perfect spot to find a top to go out in or even throw together a last-minute Halloween costume.
- Gator Patch
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Searching for the perfect tailgate outfit? Looking to rep the Florida Gators around campus? Gator Patch is the place to go! Gator Patch has a wide variety of different gator-themed apparel, including plenty of unique items that you can’t find at UF’s bookstore. If you are looking for something different or trendy, definitely check this hidden gem out.
- Express
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Express may be just another typical clothing store, but it never fails to do the trick. I can always find what I’m looking for, whether it’s an outfit, a new pair of jeans or a new on trend top.
- Bath & Body Works
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Bath & Body Works may not be a clothing store, but it deserves to be included in this list because of how much I love to shop there! This store is seriously addictive, and I know that it’ll welcome me with a new smell every time I walk in. Because it sells perfumes, lotions, hand soaps and scented candles, Bath & Body Works is the go-to place for well-scented and visually appealing bath and body items. See what I did there?
- American Eagle
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American Eagle has always been and always will be, a go-to store for me. Aside from their wide variety of trendy clothing, I mostly love American Eagle for their denim selection. Their jeans always fit so perfectly, and it’s hard to find reliable jeans, so that is a big deal!
- Sephora
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In case you hadn’t noticed it before, there is a Sephora inside the Oaks Mall, and it’s located inside J.C. Penny. Sephora will always be my favorite makeup store because they carry just about every well-known makeup brand you can think of. It can be a little pricey, but everything they sell is high quality, so it’s worth the splurge! Plus, I always can count on Sephora when I’m looking to play around with samples.
Here’s the moral of the story: Don’t give up on in-person shopping if you are in college. Just keep experimenting, keep Googling nearby stores and keep shopping in stores. Who knows what you will stumble upon? Maybe you’ll find your own Oaks Mall.