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YSU bookstore will be managed by Barnes & Noble
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Barnes & Noble College will manage the Youngstown State University bookstore.
Representatives from the company and the university announced the contract Monday. It’s a 10-year agreement with YSU guaranteed at least $675,000 the first year, said Neal McNally, vice president for operations and finance.
Income in subsequent years will be based on a percentage of sales, but McNally estimates it will be between $675,000 and $750,000.
“We couldn’t be happier to bring Barnes & Noble to campus,” YSU President Jim Tressel said at Monday’s news conference.
The university formerly operated the bookstore. McNally said that after indirect and overhead costs, net profits had been in the ranged of $110,000 to $140,000 per year.
Although no plan has been finalized, the partnership could lead to a standalone B&N College bookstore and cafe on Fifth Avenue on campus, Tressel said.
He said the idea to outsource the campus bookstore came out of recommendations from Gov. John Kasich’s Affordability and Efficiency Task Force, which charged the state’s public colleges and universities with developing new strategies.
A committee of students, faculty and staff chose Barnes & Noble College after a national search. The committee issued requests for proposals and received four, Tressel said.
Gabrielle Gessler, executive vice president of the university’s Student Government Association, was a member of that committee.
She said SGA is eager to continue to develop a relationship with Barnes & Noble College.
Chris Peterson, the company’s vice president of stores, said B&N College is proud of the YSU partnership.
The company plans a freshmen VIP event and open house before the Aug. 24 start of classes.
B&N College, a company of Barnes & Noble Education, manages 751 campus bookstores across the country.