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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Wilkes University and King&#8217;s College are considering returning their bookstores to their respective campuses in 2021, a move that would likely end joint operation at the Barnes &amp; Noble College store on South Main Street.</p><p>George Albert, owner of the building, said the leases for both colleges expire in 2021 and they have expressed interest in moving their bookstores back to their campuses.</p><p>&#8220;The industry has evolved,&#8221; Albert said.</p><p>As far as what may become of the space, Albert said he has not had any discussions with Barnes and Noble College, or any other prospective tenants.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not aware of any plans for Barnes and Noble to move out,&#8221; Albert said. &#8220;Nor have I had any inquiries from any businesses looking to locate in that space should it become available.&#8221;</p><p>Barnes &amp; Noble-branded college bookstores, such as the South Main Street location, are part of a separate company than the brand&#8217;s retail stores, having spun off from the parent in 2015.</p><p>Calls to Barnes and Noble College seeking comment were not immediately returned on Monday.</p><p><strong>Wilkes &#8216;exploring all options&#8217;</strong></p><p>Gabrielle D&#8217;Amico, executive director of Communications &amp; Graduate Marketing at Wilkes University, said their lease at the Barnes and Noble bookstore expires in August 2021.</p><p>&#8220;As such, we are exploring all options that might be suitable for a possible relocation, including spaces on our campus, but we have no firm plans at this time,&#8221; D&#8217;Amico said.</p><p>John McAndrew, King&#8217;s College director of Public Relations, said, &#8220;King&#8217;s is currently in a lease relating to its bookstore location on South Main Street. The college will consider all options for its future bookstore needs when and as appropriate.&#8221;</p><p>The colleges have had their bookstores in the South Main Street location since October 2006.</p><p>Reports have been circulating that eBay, which occupies space in the same buildings at 7 South Main St., is considering expanding and might be interested in the bookstore space if and when it becomes available.</p><p>A call to eBay was not immediately returned on Monday.</p><p><strong>Key downtown role</strong></p><p>Larry Newman, executive director at Diamond City Partnership, which promotes development downtown, said he could not confirm the report that Wilkes and King&#8217;s will not renew their bookstore leases.</p><p>&#8220;Wilkes and King&#8217;s jointly lease the bookstore space on South Main Street, and they maintain a joint operating agreement with Barnes &amp; Noble College,&#8221; Newman said. &#8220;The current bookstore lease doesn&#8217;t expire until the fall of 2021, and since the two schools are partners in a joint venture, it&#8217;s really up to them and the building owner to determine what occurs in the future.&#8221;</p><p>That said, Newman added that King&#8217;s and Wilkes are key leaders in the larger downtown revitalization strategy.</p><p>&#8220;In fact, it was their desire to get students downtown and generate new activity on the first block of South Main Street that led them to collaborate on the joint bookstore in 2006, when Downtown Wilkes-Barre was a much less vibrant place,&#8221; Newman said. &#8220;There&#8217;s no question that, nationally, college bookstore business models have changed in the intervening 13 years, and those changes will surely be taken into account as the schools plan for the future.&#8221;</p><p>Newman said downtown Wilkes-Barre also has evolved since then.</p><p>&#8220;The downtown has unquestionably changed for the better,&#8221; Newman said. &#8220;And a lot of that is due to the impact of the colleges&#8217; continued downtown investments.&#8221;</p><p>Newman said regardless of whether King&#8217;s and Wilkes choose to continue their bookstore collaboration after 2021, the two schools&#8217; commitment to advancing the &#8220;Downtown/Collegetown&#8221; strategy and to ensuring a vibrant Main Street is as strong as ever.</p><p>&#8220;They certainly aren&#8217;t going to do things that blunt downtown Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s positive momentum because it&#8217;s in everyone&#8217;s best interest to keep the downtown moving forward,&#8221; Newman said.</p><p>Albert added that whatever happens in the future he will always be interested in creating more jobs in the city and beyond.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Barnes &amp; Noble store on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre is seen Monday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_Barnes_mobile-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Barnes &amp; Noble store on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre is seen Monday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes, King’s considering returning bookstores to campuses