Changing Hands: The Raiders Store at Oakland Community College (#7)

Oakland Community College's small retail scene has seen recent changes beyond the addition of Market Twenty Four Seven. The college's "Raiders Store" bookstores recently underwent a change in management, and are now operated by Follett, who also operates the bookstores at Michigan State University and two other Detroit-area colleges, Macomb Community College and the Wayne County Community College District. 

Each of OCC's five campuses is home to a Raiders Store, stocking textbooks, school and office supplies, college apparel and other merchandise. The Raiders Stores at all five OCC campuses closed with the college's closure in March 2020, and upon OCC's in-person reopening, only the Auburn Hills and Orchard Ridge campus bookstores reopened in October, running a clearance sale in preparation for the change in management. Almost all items in the two locations were marked down to 50-75% off regular price.

This post will focus on the location at the Orchard Ridge campus in Farmington Hills. The Orchard Ridge Raiders Store is located next to Market Twenty 4 Seven, on the first floor of building J.

Part of the store extends out from the west side of building J's first floor, with a sidewalk and a patch of grass on top. Glass skylights in the store's ceiling allow pedestrians to view the store below.

The Raiders Stores at Auburn Hills and Orchard Ridge reopened on October 11th, and the clearance sale was in full swing.

Much of the apparel was sold before I visited on the 19th. Since almost all Fall 2021 classes were already in progress, the textbook section was closed, but a selection of office supplies, art supplies, OCC-branded merchandise, and various odds and ends were on sale at deep discounts. Various electronics were on shelves in the back, such as media cables, smartwatches, and even a small television.

It was truly amazing how old and outdated their leftover merchandise was, from fidget spinners (soooo 2017) to an XD-Picture Card, a long-outdated flash media format last produced in 2009.

Similarly outdated were some of the store's shopping baskets, featuring a 1990s OCC logo. The baskets could be mounted on cart frames, similar to the cart-and-basket setup of Little Green Apple Hallmark stores. Wheeled baskets were also available.

The store planned to end its clearance sale and temporarily close on Thursday, October 21, but ended up staying open through the 22nd to serve participants in the college's charity 5K run. I asked the cashier the reason for the store's closing, and she replied that Follett was taking over bookstore operations, and that the store was closing for the transition. I visited a couple of times while the store was closed, and saw Follett employees working inside.

The Orchard Ridge Raiders Store reopened under Follett on November 8th, with surprisingly little change inside. The remaining electronics were gone, apparel had been restocked and rearranged, and a small selection of packaged food was added.

Follett's website suggests that only the Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, and Royal Oak locations have reopened, not mentioning the Highland Lakes or Southfield campus stores.

The company also teases renovations in store for next summer, but for now, the Raiders Stores remain largely the same as before Follett took over.

Thanks for shopping Oakland County Retail!
A new post tomorrow night will feature the closing Kmart in Marshall, the chain's last store in its home state of Michigan.