Moravian Book Shop Adapts to New Ownership

Ownership of the Moravian Book Shop, Bethlehem, Pa., widely considered the oldest continuously running bookstore in North America, was transferred earlier this year from the Moravian Church Northern Province to Moravian College, with Barnes & Noble managing the operation. The change officially took effect on June 19 and "employees who were rehired in the sale say patrons can expect much of the same charm, staple merchandise and newer items from area artisans," LehighValleyLive.com reported.

Plans call for renovations to be completed and a grand opening for the public to be held by early November. Although local businesses the Colony Meadery and Bone Appetit, which previously were housed next to the Moravian Book Shop, have closed or moved, they will eventually be replaced by a cafe for college students and patrons as well as performance space.

Carol King, a Moravian Book Shop employee for 25 years, was one of 10 people who worked at the store under the previous ownership to accept jobs with the new owner. She said that once everything was explained to the staff, it became clear selling the bookstore was the proper move: "Those doors would have been shut and this would probably be an empty storefront."

The majority of items will be more budget conscious, she added. "We're going to go back to being unique and bringing in things you can't find anywhere else. We want to be creative."

Staple gift items like Moravian stars, holiday decor and Christmas ornaments, remain, while more souvenirs from the area will be added to inventory. LehighValleyLive.com reported that "the largest change patrons will see are items catered to Moravian College students," but these will be "away from the older section of the building offering nonfiction and fiction books."

"The book area is still the book area and that's not changing," King said.

Michael Corr, a spokesman for Moravian College, told the Morning Call: "The employees are very happy with the transition so far. They like the management and what they're doing with the store."

Leo Atkinson, a book department supervisor under the previous owners, had launched a petition in May seeking to stop the deal that eventually garnered nearly 85,000 signatures, but WFMZ-TV reported that current employees "say if people are still mad about the change, come in and talk to them because it really is the same Moravian Book Shop."

King noted: "It's still family, it's still friendship, family, laughter, fun, and once the products come in it will be the same. It will."

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