The Penn Book Center and STA Travel will stay in their current locations past August. The two retail establishments remaining in University Plaza have won a reprieve -- temporarily, at least. All of the businesses located in the old University Book Store building at 38th Street and Locust Walk were initially told that they must vacate the premises by August 14 in preparation for the building's demolition. The site is being leveled for the construction of a new six-story, $120 million Wharton School graduate facility. But with all of the mostly independent retailers of University Plaza having decided to close or relocate in advance of that date, only two tried to remain for as long as possible -- the Penn Book Center and STA Travel. Though their doors were scheduled to close next Friday, the Book Center and STA have been granted extensions on their current leases while they attempt to relocate, according to officials at both stores. Achilles Nickles, the owner of the Penn Book Center, has been negotiating with the University for the last several months to move his 35-year-old independent bookstore to the site of the former Sam Goody music store in the 3401 Walnut Street complex. He said that negotiations are continuing on the University's latest lease offer, made at a meeting in early June. But Nickles -- whose store relies heavily on textbook orders for its business -- is glad that he can stay in his current location through the busy back-to-school season. "It appears as if we may be able to stay here a little while longer for fall textbooks," he said. Earlier this year, a number of professors had expressed uncertainty about their fall textbook plans given the opening of the new Barnes & Noble-operated University Bookstore in Sansom Common and the uncertainty over the future of the Penn Book Center. But with this extension, a number of the Book Center's loyal clients have returned for the fall. Religious Studies Department Chairperson Stephen Dunning -- a 15-year customer of the Book Center -- said that he gave Nickles' store all of his textbook business this year. He had previously indicated that he would not do anything until the Book Center lease dispute was settled, but changed his mind because of the Book Center's superior customer service. "Those of us who have been using them for years have been loyal to them because of their great service," Dunning said. "That's what you really want -- responsiveness." Scott Hyatt, a senior property manager for University City Associates -- Penn's for-profit real estate arm -- refused to comment on the terms of the extensions granted to the Book Center and STA, instead insisting that Penn is in "ongoing negotiations" with both to relocate them even before the initial planned move-out date of August 14. "We are actively discussing relocations with STA Travel and the Penn Book Center," he said. "If at all possible we will accommodate them for as long as possible." Both Managing Director for Real Estate Tom Lussenhop and UCA Managing Director are on vacation this week and were unavailable for comment. But Ruth Perez, the branch manager at STA Travel, was confident that her business would be able to stay in University Plaza through at least October of this year, though she said that as for relocating STA to another site, "everything is still up in the air." Though Hyatt said that UCA will try to accommodate the retailers in University Plaza for as long as possible, the Book Store building will eventually face the wrecking ball to make way for the new Wharton building. However, several University and Wharton officials were unable to pinpoint the exact date of demolition.
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