An “ambitious” mission that may’ve opened up a second location for Harvard Book Store, whose possession group consists of John and Linda Henry, received’t come to fruition as a result of “lingering effects of the pandemic.”
“We are writing to let you know that we are unable to proceed with the construction of a second bookstore at the Prudential Center,” the shop’s possession wrote in a launch Friday. “While that project has now been canceled, we are investing in improvements at our flagship Cambridge location, which has always been the heart of Harvard Book Store.”
Harvard Book Store, a well-liked bookstore within the area, introduced in July 2022 the “beginning of a new chapter in our 90-year history” because the enterprise meant so as to add a second retailer after signing a “long-term lease” with Boston Properties, proprietor of the Prudential Center.
But the mission has come to a screeching halt. In the July 2022 announcement, co-owners Jeff Mayersohn and Linda Seamonson anticipated the shop to open by the spring of 2023, which they referred to as “quite an aggressive goal, given the scope of the project.”
“Despite exploring all available options, the lingering effects of the pandemic have continued to create considerable challenges for construction projects of this size and scope,” possession wrote in Friday’s launch. “With ongoing disruptions to the supply chain and escalating costs, our ambitious 29,000-square-foot expansion would ultimately prove unsustainable.”
The firm seemed so as to add its Prudential location in a former Barnes & Noble, an area that Mayersohn and Seamonson stated would’ve been 5 instances the scale of its Cambridge retailer. Some of the plans included a “large section dedicated to children’s literature” and a “state-of-the-art event space” for its speaker sequence and neighborhood actions.
“Bookstores matter,” possession acknowledged Friday. “They are an integral part of a deeply engaged community; places you turn to for inspiration, adventure, and learning. Our top priority has always been to remain a healthy, thriving, independent bookstore — one that can continue to grow and serve our community for many years to come.”
With the Pru enlargement falling quick, possession is continuous to concentrate on upgrades to its Harvard Square location. Those enhancements embrace enhancements to its “in-store experience” starting from its creator occasion sequence and “excellent inventory.”
Boston native Mark S. Kramer based Harvard Book Store in 1932 after he borrowed $300 from mother and father to open a small store that offered used and cut price common curiosity books on what’s now generally known as John F. Kennedy Street in Cambridge, in line with the corporate’s web site.
The firm has operated different shops all through its historical past, together with the primary bookstore cafe in Boston, Harvard Book Store Cafe on Newbury Street. But after opening in 1980, the cafe’s lease “could not be renewed … leaving the store we have today as our sole operation.”
John Henry, principal proprietor of the Red Sox and the Boston Globe, and his spouse Linda joined the Harvard Book Store possession group in 2021, in line with the corporate’s web site.
“While we are disappointed in this outcome,” possession wrote of the Prudential mission not turning into actuality, “we are grateful to the many talented and creative individuals who worked with us along the way. Most of all, we’re grateful to the literary community of Boston who have expressed so much support in anticipation of a second Harvard Book Store location.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”