A Little Retail Shopping Helps!
One of the best things about UNF (for a shopper) is the surrounding area. UNF is a relatively new school and over the past few years, the population growth has exploded. New stores are popping up overnight. With St Johns Town Center within two miles of UNF, you will find major department stores like Nordstroms and Dillards. You will find almost every major box stores including Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Family Dollar Store, TJ Maxx, Kohl’s and most others. Surely enough to soothe your retail therapy needs!
For those unfamiliar with these retail stores, here is a quick description:
Bed Bath & Beyond – As its name implies, this large store carries almost every item imaginable for a bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. They cater to the college market offering many convenient services. In some college towns, BB&B offers the service of ordering your items online and picking them up at the location nearest to your school. Unfortunately, the BB&B in Jacksonville is about 20 minutes away from UNF and doesn’t offer this service. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check out their products online and have them shipped to your home or even to UNF; it just means it won’t be as convenient if you left something off of your list.
When you are first moving to college, you should expect that the town will be extremely crowded with parents and their students all vying for the same items. While most of the stores are prepared for this onslaught, there are some items they still run out of or items you may have omitted off of your list. Some parents have suggested going to the Bed, Bath & Beyond furthest from the campus even perhaps a city away. Sometimes a more distant location will get you in much quicker and without the low inventory. For those driving from the South, St Augustine would be the closest. For those coming from the north, Brunswick, Georgia is a good option.
Target– is considered to be a trend retail discounter. They sell everything your student may need for college including room essentials, cleaning supplies, furniture, school supplies, toiletries and nonperishable and grocery items (their superstores carry fresh produce, meats, and dairy, ice cream and more). A quick look at their website and you will see that in addition to other registries, they also offer a college registry. You may also be able to order all of your items online and arrange to pick up in Jacksonville or in your hometown or have them shipped directly to UNF. Keep in mind that while shipping directly to the school is a convenience, typically move-in day is very hectic.
Walmart – is a chain of discount department stores. With three locations near UNF, they carry almost every item a college student could need. From toiletries to furniture, groceries, paper goods, cleaning supplies to clothing, it is a go-to place for picking up almost anything you could possibly need for college. If you want an egg crate pad (which looks like an empty egg carton but is made for more padding on a mattress) Walmart typically has an abundance of this product. Expect long lines during the move-in week of each semester so they may run low on stock but can be seen restocking shelves daily especially for the items you may have forgotten at home.
Best Buy – This chain store is known for electronics, computers, appliances, cell phones, video games & anything tech-related. They also are known for their Geek Squad when you need to repair your computer or electronics. For students needing an appliance such as a dorm refrigerator or large electronic item such as a television, simply order it conveniently online or a store near you and arrange for pickup at the location in Jacksonville. They do not currently deliver to dorms. Receive discounts by signing up for College Student Deals. To sign up for college deals, register by providing your student information on their College Student Deals page.
Office Depot – There are three Office Depots in the vicinity of UNF. All three of the stores are about 20 minutes from the campus. These stores are where you want to go for school supplies, office furniture, printing services, ink, and toner. Sign up for their rewards program to maximize your benefits. During move-in week, when most stores were sold out of under the bed plastic storage bins, they had plenty in stock for a competitive price. Additionally, some locations are also testing smartphone screen repairs so check the location to see if that service is available. They also offer computer tech support and repairs.
Apple – (***This location is temporarily closed.) Luckily there is an Apple store in the St. John Town Center. St. John is less than two miles from campus. Like any other Apple store location, it is highly recommended that you make an appointment if you need assistance with any product.
For a list of repair stores for broken computers, laptops and cell phones, read our blog on Computer and Phone Repair.
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