The Middlebury Shop

Shelves with Middlebury College merchandise, including water bottles, mugs, pens, and flags.

Step inside The Middlebury Shop, and you’ll find more than just merchandise on the shelves. You’ll find stories, memories, and a connection to the community itself. Each hoodie, t-shirt, or gift item carries a piece of Middlebury’s identity, something locals wear with pride and visitors take home as a reminder of their time here.

Whether you’re a Middlebury College parent searching for the perfect souvenir, a tourist discovering the town for the first time, or a local looking for a gift that feels like home, The Middlebury Shop offers more than products. It offers a piece of Middlebury’s heart.

Meet the Owner - Dan McIntosh

The Middlebury Shop has been part of downtown since 1983, when three friends, Doug McIntosh, a former P.E. teacher at MUHS, Finn Fusi, a former coach, and David Lee, a Salisbury High School teacher, came together to open Middlebury’s first sporting goods store. Originally launched as a Sportabout franchise, the venture quickly had to adapt when the national chain went under. That moment of uncertainty became an opportunity; the founders rebranded, building a store with its own identity and a stronger local connection.

For a time, the store operated under the name “Forth N’ Goal,” a clever play on words that meant “Go Forth Toward Your Goal.” It was a name meant to inspire, though as owner Dan McIntosh jokes, “It sounded cool, but then you’re on the phone spelling it out ten times a day, because everyone thinks it’s the number four. What started out clever turned into a curse in some ways.” Still, the name marked an important chapter in the store’s evolution before it became what the community now knows as The Middlebury Shop.

In its earliest days, the shelves were lined with hockey sticks, lacrosse gear, and baseball equipment. But as the years passed and Middlebury’s needs shifted, the shop evolved into something more lasting. Today, it’s a place where visitors and locals alike can find Vermont and Middlebury-themed apparel, unique gifts, and merchandise that reflects the history, charm, and pride of the town.

At the center of it all is Dan McIntosh, who grew up in Middlebury and has spent decades shaping the shop into what it is today. A lifelong resident, Dan has become a recognizable figure in town, known not just for his business but for his deep ties to community and local history. He values the small-town relationships that make Middlebury vibrant, and he carries forward the tradition of welcoming visitors with authenticity and warmth.