It’s easy to take school merchandise stores for granted, as school paraphernalia has become so commonplace that Eagle gear can even be found in area Wal-Mart stores.

But when Marvin Bass opened the doors to Eagleland in 1994, students could only find the logo sweatshirts and tees that are such a fundamental part of the college experience in N.C. Central University’s bookstore.

“Back in my day, there wasn’t a lot of NCCU merchandise and paraphernalia,” said Bass.

“Students were dissatisfied with the merchandise being only in the school store, so there was a demand and a need for Eagleland.”

Prior to the store opening, Bass was just a vendor setting up shop at athletic events and graduations to sell merchandise to Eagles and Eagles-at-heart.

But his business grew so much that opening a store was the next logical step.

The location chosen was 2501 Fayetteville St., a 10-minute walk from campus.

Since then, Bass, who graduated from NCCU in 1972, has made it Eagleland’s mission to support and promote NCCU.

“If you look on TV, you might see sweatshirts with UNC or Duke’s name on them. We want to progress to that point,” said Bass.

Eagleland has a policy of hiring NCCU students to help run the business.

“It’s one of our ways to give back to the school,” he said. “A lot of students are looking to go into business themselves, so working here gives them insight.”

“It’s the concept of helping — students helping alumni, alumni helping students, and everyone helping the University.”

NCCU alumnus founded Eagleland in 1994. The store is located at 2501 Fayetteville Street. (photo: Jacquelyn Hall/Echo Staff Photographer)

The store struggled initially in getting support in the community and with students and alumni.

Eagleland was banned from NCCU’s campus for eight years as the University attempted to generate profit from the bookstore during a brief period when it was not being managed by an outside company.

“We overcame that and we’re still here after 14 years,” said Bass. “It was hard, but in life you have to deal with hard times. The people that deal with them properly and efficiently will survive.”

Bass has witnessed firsthand NCCU’s growth from a little over 5,600 in 1994 to its current enrollment of almost 9,000 students.

He said that Eagleland’s growth has directly correlated with NCCU’s expansion.

Bass hopes to build a “bigger and better Eagleland with all the amenities that a college store should have” within the next five years.

Once he reaches retirement, Bass will be passing the business to his daughter, who works in the store from time to time, and his two grandchildren.

Bass, born in Richmond, was schooled in Baltimore and has been in Durham ever since enrolling at NCCU in 1967.

Bass’ former wife was Miss NCCU 1971-72. His daughter attended NCCU in the late 90s.

His grandchildren attended NCCU’s Child Development Lab and will hopefully be Eagles one day.

“NCCU is very close to me and I have a great deal of Eagle Pride,” he said.

“I encourage all students to stay involved as NCCU alumni because historically black institutions have a problem with alumni giving back. We need to come together as alumni and keep NCCU alive.”