New Yale bookstore still a work in progress

Most Yalies assumed they would pick up their new school supplies at the new Yale Bookstore on 77 Broadway. But two unexpected changes have delayed the opening until Mon., Nov. 17. "When we open, we'll offer the best of both worlds," general manager Gary Spearow said. "Since we're part of the college division of Barnes and Noble, we're combining the advantages of a superstore with those of a college bookstore."

The Yale Bookstore will offer features far beyond what its name indicates, including a Yale marketplace with fresh fruit and produce, and a section with "all the health and beauty aids a student could ever need," according to Spearow. In addition, the first floor will contain a 75-seat cafe serving pastries, sandwiches, and beverages, and the lower level will have a clothing section featuring brands such as Speedo and Tommy Hilfiger.

The elaborate plans for the rebuilt 65,000 square foot Yale Bookstore are a dramatic leap from its current cramped Elm Street quarters, which was a rude awakening for returning Yalies, but a boon for the Yale Bookstore's competitors.

"We've gotten a few more orders," confirmed Henry Schwab, owner and manager of Book Haven. "Our business is up a little, although it's hard to know whether business will decline once the Bookstore opens. A lot depends on the kind of job we do in the next few weeks." Schwab estimated that approximately one-third of the Yale professors ordered their books through Book Haven this semester. The majority of professors, as encouraged by theYale Administration, chose to order their books through the Yale Bookstore.

Meanwhile, students searching for supplies beyond the limited offerings of the temporary Yale Boookstore are heading to the relocated Yale Co-op. "Right now, the Bookstore hardly has anything beyond basic necessities," Andrea Zaloum, BR '99, said. "My roommates and I ended up walking down to the Co-op to get things we needed for our room."

The students most affected by the delay in the Yale Bookstore's opening, however, are those in Ezra Stiles and Morse. Since the walkway between the Co-op East and Co-op West has been closed, Stilesians and Morsels can now only enter their colleges through the York Street or Tower Parkway, and no longer have easy access to Broadway.

Ezra Stiles Master Paul Fryremarked that although he was considering opening an additional gate to Ezra Stiles, he didn't see the closed walkway as a safety issue. "At night, the students can walk through the [York Street] walkway between Toad's and Mory's, which is very well-lit and re-landscaped," Fry stated. "Once the frosh realized they could come in this way, they weren't too upset."

When the Yale Bookstore has its grand opening in November, Stilesians and Morsels will find a new and improved walkway: a covered glass arcade containing side entrances to the Bookstore. "It should be very nice," Fry said. "I'm a reluctant convert to the idea that it's going to be a pretty good store. I was a partisan of the Co-op and thought they had done an excellent job, so I was a little concerned about the decision originally. But it's very hard not to be supportive of it now, once I've seen the blueprints."

Many Yalies share Fry's growing acceptance of the Yale Bookstore. "They really seem to be going out of their way to make a good impression on us," Lauren Beslow, BK '99, said. "Every time I go in there, they're offering cookies and going around asking people if they need any help. Once it opens for good, it should be really nice."

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