University Book Store in Seattle, Wash., is making major changes to its flagship store on the University of Washington campus. According to general book department manager Pam Cady, the store is consolidating its entire book inventory on the flagship store's first floor.
While the book inventory, which had previously been spread across the first and second floors, will now have less total square footage, the first floor still amounts to more than 10,000 square feet of retail space, and Cady described the new layout as "much more intimate." At the same time, the move will allow the flagship store to significantly expand its second-floor event space.
"It's something we've been considering for a while," explained Cady. "I think it's coming at a good time. Our neighborhood will be undergoing big changes in the next couple of years with light rail opening almost on our doorstep, so we wanted to get ready for that and position ourselves for the future."
Cady added that although the store is still in the thick of moving inventory, it's been "pretty fun to see how it's all shaping up... I think it's going to be a great space for book lovers to shop."
University Book Store was founded in 1900 by two University of Washington students, who first opened for business in a coat closet next to the university president's office. The store has six locations around the Seattle area and has operated as a trust since 1964, with UW students, faculty and staff as the beneficiaries.