Bookstore has Starbucks in its eyes

Sep 05, 2008 (The Lima News - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- SBUX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Sep. 5--LIMA -- A festive atmosphere greeted Lima's newest bookstore Thursday morning. A marching band, a small jazz band, catered food and fresh coffee ushered in the grand opening of the store on the campus of the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, a privately-held sister company to Barnes & Noble, held a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony at the 1721 Hartzler Road facility.

In addition to offering a fullservice bookstore, textbooks and UNOH apparel, the cafe offers Starbucks coffee service.

U n i v e r s i t y President Jeffrey Jarvis said it was an exciting day on campus.

"It's been a long time coming," Jarvis said. "I think it's another key component in the future and development of the University of Northwestern Ohio."

The partnership between the company and university was announced in February 2007. Barnes & Noble also operates the bookstore at Ohio Northern University in Ada.

The new bookstore is a benefit not just to the campus but to the community as well, Jarvis said.

"I think now the city of Lima has a bookstore that's obviously one of the best in the world. They're well known," Jarvis said. "The community has a place to come and buy top-rate books. Sit down and enjoy the shop. We have a Starbucks, we were the first to bring them in. With our long-term development plan it was just natural to have a relationship with Barnes & Noble and Starbucks."

The company is equally pleased with how the new facility turned out.

"It's terrific that the University of Northwestern Ohio reached out to us in a partnership. We built a beautiful store for the UNOH campus for their students, their faculty and their staff as well as the Lima community," said Chris Peterson, director of stores for Barnes & Noble College Booksellers. "It's a great name to bring to the campus. Our brand is terrific. It's a great addition to the community."

The opening of the bookstore marks the completion of the first part of the new Student Life Center on the UNOH campus. Additional buildings are under construction that will include administrative offices, computer labs and classrooms, campus radio/television stations, library, banking center, food service and an 800-seat student recreation area.

The projects are part of the 10-year expansion plan announced by the university three years ago.

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