Book Center settles into new location

After months of uncertainty last year about where -- or even whether -- it would continue its 36-year existence at the University, the Pennsylvania Book Center is finally settled into its new spot, the store's owner said. The privately-owned independent bookstore closed its former location in the old University Bookstore building at 38th and Walnut streets in late October of last year. That building is scheduled for demolition in the spring to make way for a new $120 million Wharton School facility. Penn Book Center co-owner Achilles Nickles agreed to move to the former Sam Goody spot in the 3401 Walnut Street complex after tumultuous, nearly year-long negotiations with the University over where, or if, it would relocate. The University's announcement that the Bookstore building would be demolished also threw long-time tenants like the Classical Choice music store out of their storefronts. Since opening last Monday, just in time for the spring course book-buying season, Nickles said his store has seen no noticeable drop in customers. Professors from the English and History departments, among others, frequently order books through the Book Center and independent House of Our Own Books rather than from the main University Bookstore, now located in Sansom Common and operated by Barnes & Noble College Bookstores Inc. Nickles said he was "excited" about his store's new location, noting that the store -- which opened in 1962 -- had originally been located near the intersection of 34th and Walnut streets, very close to its third and newest space. He added that the "configuration is nice" in the new space, and that he likes its sizeable windows, which let in large amounts of sunlight. The Book Center's new manager, Keith Helmuth, said that the store is "fully operational, [though] we're not completely stocked." Helmuth said students seem to be finding the store without any problems. Tom Lussenhop, the University's top real estate official, stressed that the University is "thrilled" with the Book Center's new location. "We worked for months and months? to find a location" and arrangement that would benefit both the bookstore and the University, he said, adding that, "We succeeded in helping both the University and the business." Nickles said he isn't very concerned about competition from the new and enlarged University Bookstore because the two have "different orientations." "I don't look at it as a competitive situation," he said, adding that it is good to have different options within the University community. Shoppers at the Book Center last week generally seemed pleased with the store's new space. College sophomore Rachel Burton said she thinks the new store is "going to be nicer than the last one" when it is completed. But College senior Lucille Marino said that she missed the ambience of the store's former home. "I think it's kind of a shame that they lost their old space," she said, noting that while the old store was less polished looking, it had "character."