Stores fill patriotic need

By Tricia Roegner

Lately, it seems like everyone wants to show off new-found patriotism.

Local stores around DeKalb have taken notice to this new patriotic trend and are making sure they have the merchandise to fill everyone’s needs.

“When the war started, people started coming in asking if we had any patriotic merchandise,” said Willie Brown, store manager of Wal-Mart, 2500 Sycamore Road.

Like many other stores, Wal-Mart is trying to keep the shelves stocked with Desert Storm T-shirts, sweatshirts and yellow ribbons.

“This merchandise has been very popular in the last month, and I haven’t seen any signs of their popularity decreasing,” Brown said.

The Village Commons Bookstore, 901 Lucinda Ave., began making custom-made T-shirts when the war first broke, and now has increased its merchandise with more T-shirts and sweatshirts.

However, Mary Ann Best, a buyer and employee at VCB have noticed a decreasing demand.

“It seems to me that the demand for patriotic merchandise has slowed down a bit since the beginning of the war,” Best said.

There was a much more noticeable demand for the merchandise at the beginning of the war.”

Fashion Bug, 2500 Sycamore Road, also is selling Desert Storm and patriotic clothing and are donating a portion of the money it receives to families of the war-support groups.

“Before the war even started, patriotic clothing was being shown as one of the big fashion trends for the spring,” said store manager Erica Ericson. “Customers seem to really like the patriotic styles.”