Author |
Message |
   
chocoholic
Citizen Username: Shrink
Post Number: 30 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 2:57 pm: |
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To the trustees: I was wondering if anyone has ever approached Barnes and Nobles to set up a store here in SO. It would be a hit. There would be no way that hey could lose money. Also, what 's up with the Gourmet supermarket? |
   
mayhewdrive
Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 413 Registered: 5-2001
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 3:09 pm: |
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Choc, Didn't you see the sign? It's "Coming Soon"!  |
   
woodstock
Citizen Username: Woodstock
Post Number: 384 Registered: 9-2002

| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 3:44 pm: |
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1-Where would they put it? 2-Why would they put it here? We have minimal foot traffic, and we're not a destination town. I'm not saying I wouldn't like it here, but from their perspective, why would they? Now, if SHU's bookstore were a B&N (or borders, or even waldenbooks) in town, that would be something else... Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him
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NCJanow
Citizen Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 995 Registered: 5-2001
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 3:48 pm: |
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B&N just closed there shop in Essex Green and consolidated it with the one on Rte. 10. They seem to only like strip malls or enclosed ones. It would be great if SHU moved there BookStore into the Village. I was down in New Brunswick and noticed that Rutgers bookshop was located off campus. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it.
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woodstock
Citizen Username: Woodstock
Post Number: 385 Registered: 9-2002

| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 3:53 pm: |
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Not only would it give the town a real bookstore. It would bring SHU students into town to spend money. And maybe there would be less us/them feelings between the town and the students. Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him
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growler
Citizen Username: Growler
Post Number: 242 Registered: 11-2001
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 3:58 pm: |
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Only if the SHU bookstore paid taxes. If it's exempt like the school then the rateable is lost. Not good. |
   
mayhewdrive
Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 415 Registered: 5-2001
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 4:00 pm: |
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Woodstock, My alma mater, Georgia Tech, just did exactly that. A new Barnes & Noble opened & became the campus bookstore: http://gatech.bkstore.com/
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Marc
Citizen Username: Bautisma
Post Number: 6 Registered: 9-2003
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 4:08 pm: |
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The Seton Hall bookstore is pretty pathetic so maybe they would be up for Barnes and Noble to come in. |
   
NCJanow
Citizen Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 996 Registered: 5-2001
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 4:20 pm: |
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But (oh, I hate this phrase), it really would be a win, win situation, Town gains bookstore, student traffic, Students discover what a great village South Orange is. As a profit making insititution, taxes should be paid, but additional revenue from community shopping should make it doable. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it.
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chocoholic
Citizen Username: Shrink
Post Number: 31 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 4:39 pm: |
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I think that there is room to put a Barnes and Nobles in SO. They could put it in the site that they are going to put the Kinkos ( the Beifus site), or a little bit further up on SO Avenue where there are all those vacant stores. Or better yet, if you want to develop the eastern part of town, get rid of the Harrison's Carreer Insititute on SO Avenue and put the Barnes and Nobles in there. Great location, and it is right across from seton hall. Remember, a Barnes and Nobles does not have to be huge; the one on the west side in Manhattan is pretty small, yet does bang up business because of the demographics of the area. The same demographics that we have here, may I add. |
   
Marc
Citizen Username: Bautisma
Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2003
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 4:58 pm: |
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The only problem with the Harrison's Career Institute sight, besides them possibly not wanting to move is that it defeats the objective of getting students to go downtown.
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lnt
Citizen Username: Lnt
Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2003
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 6:34 pm: |
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Is the distance from the campus to downtown walkable? I never get up that way. If it's a real hike, the students aren't likely to go for it. |
   
NCJanow
Citizen Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 997 Registered: 5-2001
| Posted on Friday, October 3, 2003 - 7:43 pm: |
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The demograhics might be the same but the density certainly is not. There are probably more people on one square block of the upper West Side than in all the rentals in South Orange. It is a hike from campus to the village, but ShU already runs a SHUttle and we are talking about young, helathy young students. Surely than can walk the distance in ubder 15 minutes. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it.
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noracoombs
Citizen Username: Noracoombs
Post Number: 27 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 11:33 am: |
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I live a block from Seton Hall and am several decades older than a college freshman, and I can walk to the SO train station in approximately 12 minutes--and that's at a leisurely stroll--without even breaking a sweat. Seton Hall kids would have no problem with the walk.
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mrosner
Citizen Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 655 Registered: 4-2002
| Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 12:41 pm: |
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B & N has has been approached in the past. I spoke with someone less than one year ago myself about the possibility. At this time they have no interest in opening on anything other than a major thoroughfare (Rte. 22, Rte 10, etc). S. Orange also is "too close" to another B & N (according to them). It does not mean they won't reconsider. Also, I hear they are looking into opening smaller stores with just their top sellers. Borders has also experimented with the smaller store concept. It would be nice to have one, although I think the best space available right now would be on Valley Street, not S. Orange Ave. The amount of parking they need for that kind of operation is fairly significant and a fairly deep lot is needed. The whole Beifus site by itself would barely meet their requirements for the type of store they have been opening in the suburbs. Hard to compare SHU with Rutgers or the towns. The village is certainly within walking distance. Many students manage to frequent the local bars (not that they drink...). We know they walk because we get complaints about how loud they are walking back to the campus late at night. |
   
bobk
Supporter Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3504 Registered: 5-2001
| Posted on Sunday, October 5, 2003 - 6:51 am: |
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Taking over college book stores seems to be part of Barnes and Nobles marketing strategy. Our daughter is at college in Chicago and B&N runs the book store. It is located on campus, but on a main street and has the usual Barnes and Noble signage. The first floor is a small general bookstore, but with a more academic twist than a normal B&N. Test books are sold on the second floor. There is also a Starbucks located in the space. I kinda doubt that it is practical to have a college book store located away from campus. Lugging the books for four courses back to campus would require a hand truck!! But, then who knows? |
   
shoshannah
Citizen Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 246 Registered: 7-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 10:45 am: |
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FWIW, Barnes and Noble College Bookstores, Inc. is a separate corporate entity from Barnes & Noble, Inc. Mr. Rosner, did you approach the former or the latter? |
   
mrosner
Citizen Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 660 Registered: 4-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 11:07 am: |
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I approached B & N, Inc. I was told that the college bookstores does not have plans to open off-campus stores. Do you have other info?
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shoshannah
Citizen Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 248 Registered: 7-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 11:09 am: |
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I don't have any info about the copmpanies' plans, but since people were talking about B&N as one company I thought I'd point out that there are actually two companies. |
   
mrosner
Citizen Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 661 Registered: 4-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 11:18 am: |
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Shoshannah: Ok, I knew about the two. What I would like is to find someone from Borders to see if they have an interest. |
   
Marc
Citizen Username: Bautisma
Post Number: 15 Registered: 9-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 11:30 am: |
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What about an independent bookstore, similar to the Montclair Book Center http://www.montclairbookcenter.com |
   
wnb
Citizen Username: Wnb
Post Number: 53 Registered: 8-2001
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 2:45 pm: |
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Montclair Book Center rocks! I have often wondered why a town like this doesn't have a good used bookstore. Sometimes when I'm having more realistic escapist fantasies I imagine opening one. That said, MBC and B-N are two different animals. A B-N could function as an "anchor" store. An MBC could not. Beyond personal preferences (I personally prefer MBC) is the question of what the village center needs. If you subscribe to the "anchor store" theory of commercial districting, you'd have to back a B-N type entry for commercial health & growth even if you prefer MBC for your your actual book browsin'.
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bobk
Supporter Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3529 Registered: 5-2001
| Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 3:10 pm: |
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I am sure that Barnes and Noble College Book Stores is a subsidiary of B&N, not an independent operation. |
   
phil
Citizen Username: Psoh
Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2003
| Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 4:27 pm: |
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As an SHU student, I would love to see an independent bookstore. I doubt B&N would be the ones to do it, but it would be great to go independent. The prices would be a hell of a lot better and maybe the university wouldn't be as separative from the village (and vice versa). |
   
ajc
Citizen Username: Ajc
Post Number: 1975 Registered: 9-2001
| Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 5:54 pm: |
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Why not try the Goldfinch Book Store 97A Baker Street, Maplewood. 973-763-4225 or www.goldfinchbooks.com It's a new store, very friendly people. Like B&N, if they don't have it they'll get it for you in a day... |