OT-Moe Sport Shop sells to Underground Printing
I was disappointed to learn last night that Moe Sport Shop sold to Underground Printing. Underground will keep the Moe name & some of the memorabilia, but from what I was told it seems that's about all that will be reminiscent of the old Moe's. As a friend of the Van de Wege family and a former employee, I wish Bud Sr. & Buddy much luck in their future. The shop won't be the same without them there, and I sincerely hope that Underground will perpetuate the culture and tradition that the Van de Wege's upheld when they bought the Moe name. I don't believe that everyone will share the same sentiment with that store as I do, but hopefully those of you who frequently shopped there while attending UM will understand what I've been talking about. :-(
This is an interesting decision by Underground Printing. With Steve and Barry's declaring bankruptcy, I believe manufacturing special-order shirts is more lucrative than actually merchandising them.
Maybe this is more of an effort to popularize the "Underground Printing" brand name?
They do have a new storefront on South U. so I don't think they view merchandising the shirts and issue. UGP may just be trying to diversify and spread into a different market.
I come away impressed every time I deal with the UGP guys. They really care about the customer and as a result I have no problem spreading the word about them and returning to do more business.
Moe's was always the place to go for the good stuff, even with Steve & Barry's around.
While I really liked shopping at Moe's, I know the owner of underground pretty well, and he's a great guy. He started UGP while he was an undergrad at Michigan, and I have no doubt that he wants to keep selling great M apparel at another location.
I went to the UGP storefront on South U a couple weekends ago, and it's a really interesting place (I picked up 2 MGoShirts there) they have things for sale (mostly U of M, some state of Michigan stuff, some ann arbor stufF) but they also have a few computers that take you to their design studio in store so that you can design your own shirts to print.
That said, Moe's was great and I also wish the family the best. I think that with the new MDen right around the corner... there may have been too much competition.
All told I'm glad that a local M grad is the one buying Moe's, and hopefully we can get our MGoShirts in 2 campus locations now.
...on topic.
Two different clientele bases, two different aesthetics. Both stores serve different niches for me, the Michigan memento shopper. Blending them together will result in the MDen and that already exists.
I love Moe's and it was always the place that I'd go to to get the real authentic merchandise. There was something always great about stopping in at Moe's in between classes to see how I could waste some of my money.
I also, however, have ties to the UGP guys and have always felt they run a quality business that is focused on helping the customer first.
I wish them both the best in the future.
Not many of you might know this, but Bud Sr. was such an integral part to the UofM community and athletic community that he was inducted as an honorary member of the M Club this past fall. I hope that the Van de Weges stay around and stay part of the community.
Moe's has a special place in my heart. During the weekend that I first visited UM, when I fell in love with the place and immediately knew that that was where I wanted to spend the next 4 years of my life, I bought my first items of Michigan apparel at Moe's. I bought a hat and most likely a T-shirt and/or sweatshirt. I definitely remember the Legacy hat though. I wore the shit out of that for the next few years until I bought a new one.
Underground are good guys. I've always been happy with the Van de Wege's also, but I can't see this being in any way a bad thing. Case closed!
Don't worry - you will see both Bud Sr and Bud Jr in Moe's - they will be still be involved in the store that they built. Moe's will stay true to itself and UGP will do the same - as was mentioned above, they have different niches and customers and that won't be changed or blended. We all are just proud to become part of the Moe's family. - Rishi and Ryan, Underground Printing
I jus hope Moe's doesn't go the way of Drake's and the Kresge's next door - disappeared!
Sad to see it go. I purchased all of my Michigan gear from Moes.