Barnes & Noble at Elon University celebrated its new home at Elon Town Center at ceremonies on Sept. 30.
During ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Elon University President Leo M. Lambert marveled at the short time it took to construct the facility. Building began in early February, and the store opened for business Aug. 22, in time for the opening of the 2011-12 academic year.
Lambert had special praise for Elon Town Center developer John McDonald and Gerald Whittington, Elon’s senior vice president for business, finance and technology. McDonald and Whittington conceived the plan to build the private building on university-owned land.
“We hope this is the first step in continuing to make Elon, North Carolina, one of the great college towns in American,” Lambert said. “We’re really proud of this new building, we think it has made a big difference in downtown Elon.”
McDonald called Elon Town Center just “phase one” in the the town’s redevelopment and called it “another example of Elon University reaching out to develop the community.” He noted that two businesses, Pandora’s Pizza and Smitty’s Ice Cream will open in the building in late October, and that he is still searching for an office tenant for the building’s third floor.
Brian Stark, vice president for Barnes & Noble College Booksellers had special praise for bookstore manager Kathy Scarborough for opening the store on a tight timeframe.
Town of Elon Mayor Jerry Tolley said the new store is “a wonderful thing for our town” and a resource for all citizens.