A new type of storefront is on its way to the Arlington business district.
Vassar College plans to convert the existing Juliet Pizza and Billiards building, located at 60 Raymond Ave., into its new campus bookstore, which will serve the Vassar and Arlington business communities alike.
The transformation, set for 2009, is anticipated to be a positive modification for the area, according to the college. The new store will be a fusion of a retail bookstore, offering products like general interest books, gifts and entertainment goods, and a regular college bookstore, with academic materials like textbooks and class supplies.
Vassar College Vice President of Finance and Administration Elizabeth Eismeier said that the new bookstore will be a successful retail hub and welcome addition to the rapidly changing business scene of the Poughkeepsie area.
“We know that a bookstore is a core business that works,” she said. “We know that Arlington has struggled as the retail landscape has changed. It used to be one little shopping community, but now with the malls and development on Route 9, everything has changed.”
The 10,000 square-foot building, situated at the corner of Raymond and Collegeview avenues, is expected to have a significant impact on the Arlington community. It’s expected to strengthen the relationship between the college and the community, as well as improve Arlington business, said Eismeier.
In a press release, Vassar College president Catharine Hill said that the renovation will enhance a bond between Vassar and the neighborhood.
“I … hope the store helps Vassar and our Arlington neighbors feel even more connected,” said Hill.
Vassar College Director of Media Relations Jeff Kosmacher said that store will be a shared entity.
“In every way we can, we want the new Vassar bookstore to become that kind of neighborhood place to shop, hang out and attend a reading or performance,” he said. “It’ll take a little time, but we hope the community will feel the store is as much theirs as the college’s.”
With the capacity to tap into both the academic and local populations and draw them into the business district, the store should increase foot traffic to the area, and with increased foot traffic comes an advantage for other local businesses.
In a release, Bob Raisch, director of the Arlington Business Improvement District, said that the endeavor is a significant advantage to the business district.
“The new retail bookstore, along with the further scheduled physical improvements on Raymond and Collegeview, are very likely to attract other serious investors to the Arlington area,” said Raisch.
Vassar’s Eismeier also said that the addition of a major store would sway other businesses to come to Arlington.
“It will be an anchor so that other stores in the area will see the footprint and make a commitment to Arlington,” she said.
Reason for concern
Regardless of these anticipated benefits, some are hesitant about the changeover.
Walter Effron, owner of The Three Arts bookstore on Collegeview Avenue in Arlington, said that he has uncertain feelings about the new bookstore.
“I don’t really know enough about what their specific plans are, and I’m hoping to have a chance to be able to have an opportunity to ask them more specifically about this,” he said. “So I’m not really sure how this might affect us.”
The Three Arts bookstore is a standard local bookstore, with a sideline emphasis in local history. The family business has been open since 1946, and is representative of the smaller local enterprises that might be affected by Vassar’s move.
Effron said that he hopes that an accord will be able to be reached between the two similar businesses.
“I probably would want to have a chance, if possible, to talk to them at some point, hopefully fairly soon, to get some idea of where we might fit in,” said Effron. “I hope that things will work out for us, in harmony with what the college’s plans are, and that there will be room for us as they implement their plan.”
However, a great deal of planning and development is still in the works before the overhaul of the building, which is owned by College Properties, LLC, Vassar’s real estate subsidiary. Vassar is waiting for a proposal from Barnes & Noble, with whom they are working on the store plan.
A monetary estimate for the project has not yet been made. However, Eismeier said that considering the current use of the building, with distinct features intact like a brick pizza oven, major adjustments will be needed.
“There will have to be some changes in the building’s infrastructure,” said Eismeier. “We anticipate that this will be a cost we have to bear.”
Both interior and exterior renovations are planned, which will keep true to the atmosphere of the location and original structure of the building, which was once a movie theatre.
Although there is much work to be done, the project is gaining momentum.
“We’ve got some exciting times ahead,” said Eismeier, “and I’m really optimistic.”
Representatives from the Juliet were not available for comment.