Sams Lotson Bookstore, offering new and used titles, hosted a grand-opening celebration and ribbon cutting last Friday for its second store, located in the Johnstown Galleria at 500 Galleria Dr., Suite 300, in Johnstown, Pa. The Tribune-Democrat reported that the new bookshop occupies the same location that was vacated by Books-A-Million last August. It is owner Griff Lotson's second location, joining the bookstore that launched in November at the Indiana Mall in Indiana, Pa.
Lotson said he has an inventory of nearly one million books; about a quarter of them can be found in the Johnstown Galleria space. A retired Navy lieutenant, he has "focused on his passion for entrepreneurship and creating a business carrying the legacy of his family name. His business is named after his grandmother, Josephine (Sams) Lotson," the Tribune-Democrat noted.
"What's most rewarding about this is being able to provide affordable options for people to buy books for themselves and families," he said.
In the new bookstore, "customers will find tables and chairs, massage chairs and free coffee, but they may not see Lotson often. The store is self-service. Customers can purchase books through scanning items and paying with a card, or by putting money into a cash box," the Tribune-Democrat wrote.
Lotson said he is happy to be part of the Johnstown Galleria: "If you haven't been to the mall, it's time you check it out. A lot of great things are going on in the Galleria. New life is being brought to Johnstown and the community."