Spectrum - Volume 17 Issue 07 October 6, 1994 - Bookstore will open mall branch

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Bookstore will open mall branch

Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 07 - October 6, 1994

The University Bookstore, a component of Virginia Tech Services, Inc., will open a branch at the University Mall in Blacksburg in the space formerly occupied by Heironimus. The move is being made to better serve the university's 24,000 students. About two-thirds of the Tech student body lives off campus.

"Most of our students commute to campus, and parking becomes ever more difficult each year. We feel we have a obligation to provide services to all Tech students. The best way to do that is to go to where they are and make it easy for them to have access to their university bookstore," said Art Keown, chairman of the Virginia Tech Services Board and Tech finance professor.

The 24,000-square-foot branch store will be similar to the campus facility carrying a full line of textbooks, but with an expanded section of scholarly and trade books. Renovation work will begin soon with a projected store opening in early 1995. This branch is expected to create approximately 30 additional jobs. The University Bookstore on campus will continue operations.

"Like other town shopping districts, the University Mall has suffered from the departure of retail stores. This branch bookstore will serve as an anchor attracting foot traffic for other stores," Keown said.