Quinnipiac University recently opened a new and improved bookstore on the Mount Carmel Campus, bringing students everything from their favorite brands to textbooks for all majors.
The bookstore was originally housed in the Carl Hansen Student Center until its recent move to the former Faculty Office Building located behind The Dome.
“The other store was kind of cramped,” Bookstore Market Leader Cheryl Cartier said. “You know, it was like walking through a maze, and now we’re just spread open, you know, it’s so spread out that you could see everything all at once.”
The 15,000 square-foot building is home to two floors, each stocked with Quinnipiac apparel including t-shirts, sweatshirts, outerwear and more, as well as a variety of school supplies and course materials, ensuring students have access to everything essential.
“This one has a lot more light, which is much more inviting,” Bookstore Sales Associate Siera Davis said. “And then, just like, having the two levels can be, like, a fun experience. Like, ‘oh my gosh, what am I gonna go see?’” Davis said. “I like (that it has) that surprise aspect, because people don’t even notice the downstairs until (they’re) like, ‘Oh yeah, you have to go downstairs (to) get your textbooks.’”
The bookstore also introduced a new Grab and Go food option, giving students greater access to healthier snacks and microwavable options.
“(I) think my favorite thing (is) the food that they have,” freshman film and television major Faith Cerrato said.
With the old bookstore location allotting two separate spaces for Quinnipiac apparel and textbooks/coursework, Cartier hopes this allows for less confusion from students.
“They don’t have to go upstairs to get textbooks and then come downstairs to, you know, get their pens. It could be all in one space, all in one transaction,” Cartier said. “It was kind of hard telling people, okay, go down the stairs, go down the hallway, go up the stairs, and then get your books there, then come back downstairs.”
Bookstore management has also taken steps to create a more inclusive establishment, introducing size-inclusive mannequins at its new location.
Cartier then went on to describe a few of her responsibilities as market leader including managing all operations at both the Hamden store as well as the North Haven Campus store.
“It’s a great experience. Yeah, it’s a great campus, you know, I’m happy to be here. I feel like we’re great partners,we work towards improving the experience for students and faculty and staff.”
She also addresses some of the challenges faced in opening this new location, including difficulties moving inventory from space to space.
With the bookstore’s new location opening just days ago, Cartier shared that she and her team have already received a great deal of positive student feedback.
“This one just has so much more stuff,” Davis said, as she compares the current bookstore to its old location. “You literally don’t need to go to Walmart or Target. You have food goods, you have toiletries, you have all your clothing. You literally don’t need to go anywhere else, which is awesome.”
