When the University Bookstore was taken over by Wallace’s College Bookstores, Inc., plans were made to renovate the existing bookstore. But why have those plans not yet been executed? Wallace’s submitted a proposal to Nicholls stating they would sign a contract to take over in October.

Based on the signing in October, final store plans would be approved in February and renovations would begin soon thereafter, Dr. Eugene Dial, dean of Student Life and chair of the Bookstore Committee, said.

“When the bids went out, Nicholls had to consider which bookstore to go with. Wallace’s assumed that Nicholls would be ready to give them an answer by October, and planned their proposal around that month.

“The board of supervisors did not meet until Dec. 8, and the University was closed until Jan. 2,” Dial said.

As a result, Wallace’s officially took over the bookstore Jan. 2, instead of in October as originally planned. Final plans and renovations that were set to start happening in February have been delayed by more than two months, he said.

Wallace’s has proposed that many new things be added to the existing bookstore to make it more modern and better able to help students.

Renovations such as a seating area, an on-line all-the-time computer station for students to look up products for sale and a small marketplace area with basic groceries are all in the plans, Dial said.

Wallace’s had a lot of assessing to do before finalizing renovation plans. The company’s plan is to fully modernize not only the appearance of the store, but its contents as well, he said.

“It’s going to look more like a store. It is going to have hard floors, some carpeted areas and seating areas,” he said.

Even with the spring semester in full effect, and students beginning to rush in to get things for classes, the renovations will still take place.

Wallace’s will gradually introduce the renovations to the bookstore, so it will still be open and able to function for student use.

“Expecting that the final plans will be in place by April, renovations should be complete by July,” Dial said.

The grand opening for the new bookstore will be sometime during the summer or fall semester.

Although the renovation process is taking longer than expected to get started off, hopes are still high.

“We are excited about it, and I think the students are going to be proud of it when it’s done,” Brenda Haskins, director of Union Services, said.

“I think it is a great move for everybody, the students, faculty and staff. It is just a great thing,” she said.