Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Bookstore to Be Part of Major Redevelopment Project

Shelf Awareness

In February, Rutgers University-Newark is opening a 10,000-square-foot bookstore in a mixed-use development in downtown Newark, N.J., that will include a Whole Foods Market and a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Rutgers-Newark store, managed by Barnes & Noble College, is relocating from its current location "tucked away in an academic building."

The project involves the redevelopment of a historic Hahne & Co. department store and is intended to contribute to downtown Newark's ongoing revitalization. The 400,000-square-foot redevelopment will also have 160 apartments, with 40% set aside for affordable housing.

Designed to cater to the general public as well as Rutgers students, the new bookstore plans to have author signings, open-mic poetry nights and Saturday story hours for children. "It would be a gathering place for the community," said Patrick Maloney, president of B&N College. "Hopefully, they would get a cup of Starbucks, come across the street and spend a few hours with us."

"How many campuses are there that are gated and separated from town?" said Jonathan Cortell, v-p of development at L+M Development Partners, one of the companies managing the redevelopment. "Here, Rutgers is making a concerted statement that this is a rich city with a soul."

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