Clarkson to revamp downtown Potsdam bookstore
POTSDAM - Shoppers at Clarkson’s University Bookstore will soon be able to grab a cup of joe while they browse the shelves for the latest edition of Mechanical Measurements.
Clarkson and Follett Corp., operators of the village’s downtown bookstore, are teaming up to give the 39 Market St. building a complete makeover, including the addition of a café, the university has announced.
Renovations of the building’s 4,800 square foot interior are meant to refresh the store’s overall “feel,” according to bookstore manager John T. Hennessey.
That means adding cherry wood furniture and custom cabinets to create an “ultra-modern yet inviting atmosphere,” the university said.
The inviting atmosphere will also include the addition of a seating area, where shoppers can kick-up their feet while sipping on a latte from the new café.
“We are excited about delivering a new ambiance and customer experience to the campus community,” Kelly O. Chezum, Clarkson’s vice president for external relations, said in a press release.
The work will also include redesigning the floor plan and repositioning store departments for easier navigation through the store, they said.
The goal is to relieve the congestion of students stocking up textbooks as the school year begins, Mr. Hennessey said.
“The new layout also features convenient register placement to minimize long lines during busy back-to-school seasons so students can browse the bookstore’s variety of affordable textbook options and complete their purchase in a timely manner,” the store manager said.
But it’s not just cosmetic improvements the university has in mind. They also plan to give visitors a larger selection of books and Clarkson gear to choose from.
Shelves are set to be stockpiled with more textbooks and general reading books not found in a typical campus bookstore, including items specific to the north country, the university said.
In July 2010, Clarkson ditched its deal with retail giant Barnes & Noble in favor of Follett Corp., River Grove, Ill., the group leading the renovation process.
The bookstore declined to speculate on how much the renovation project will cost, calling it a private matter.
Beginning March 12, the bookstore will leave the 35 Market St. space and set up shop down the block at 15 Market St. in a temporary home.
A grand opening is tentatively scheduled for early April, bookstore officials said, when the renovations are scheduled to be complete.
