CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Austin Peay State University is partnering with national book retailer Barnes and Noble to operate the campus bookstore.
According to a news release from APSU, this move is part of a 10-year strategic plan that calls for creating “a vibrant downtown for a traditional college town experience.”
The institution will open a 13,000-square-foot retail bookstore and coffee shop at the corner of College and Fourth streets in the coming months.
In January 2016, the University purchased 11 acres along College Street, and work will begin soon on relocating the campus’ Ann Ross Bookstore from the Harvill Building, across from the Morgan University Center’s plaza, to the Jenkins and Wynne dealership’s former main showroom.
“This aligns perfectly with our strategic plan’s mission of supporting Austin Peay students, while also being a partner in the growth of the city of Clarksville,” Derek van der Merwe, APSU vice president for advancement, communication and strategic initiatives, said in a release.
The University is partnering with national book retailer Barnes and Noble to operate the campus bookstore. The company, which operates 770 campus bookstores across the country, will provide students with textbooks at the new location, but the Barnes and Noble store will also be open to the public, selling children’s books, trade books, best sellers, office supplies and Austin Peay-branded merchandise.
The venue will be similar to the Vanderbilt University Barnes and Noble on West End Avenue in Nashville, with a Barnes and Noble Café that will also be open to the public.
APSU said Barnes and Noble provided an initial design concept for the newly renovated space, but those designs will likely change as the process moves forward. The company also plans to be in the new location by the Fall 2018 semester, but that date could change.
In Tennessee, Barnes and Noble operates several campus bookstores, including retail stores at Vanderbilt, University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Sewanee: The University of the South.