TCU bookstore to break affiliation with Barnes & Noble

TCU is ending a long affiliation with Barnes & Noble at its campus bookstore this summer and will rebrand the location as the TCU Bookstore on July 1, to be managed by Follett Higher Education Group.

The store, located at South University Drive and West Berry Street, has been operated with Barnes & Noble since 1997. That location opened in 2008 after a fire destroyed the old bookstore on Cockrell Avenue, which was being renovated.

In an email, TCU spokeswoman Holly Ellman said the bookstore will close on June 28 and reopen as the TCU Bookstore on July 1.

Ellman said the decision to change vendors was made following a campus-wide survey regarding bookstore services and was based on a recommendation from a committee composed of faculty, staff, administration and student representatives.

Follett is a leading retailer on college campuses in the United States, operating about 1,200 campus stores across the country, according to its website. In Texas, it has campus stores at several university, including Baylor, Tarleton State and Texas Wesleyan.

Ellman said Follett will offer “new tools and technology for faculty and students, ranging from digital textbook adoption services to integration with the University’s new learning management system.”

The move will be the latest downsizing by Barnes & Noble in Fort Worth. In recent years, the New York-based bookseller has closed bookstores at the University Park Village shopping center and in Sundance Square.

Last year, Barnes & Noble spun out the business that operates college bookstores into a new public company called Barnes & Noble Education. Last week, Barnes & Noble Education reported a net loss of $3.6 million for its fiscal third quarter as sales decreased 0.6 percent to $518.4 million.

“While we are disappointed with the decision by the Texas Christian University administration to move in a different direction, Barnes & Noble College is proud of our 20-year partnership with TCU,” the company said in a statement. “During our tenure, we remained true to our mission to be a complete support system for TCU students, faculty and staff, supporting the university’s mission and goals and being a seamless extension of TCU to the greater Fort Worth community as the local Barnes & Noble.”

Based in Basking Ridge, N.J., Barnes & Noble Education said it operates 748 campus stores.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 10:45 AM with the headline "TCU bookstore to break affiliation with Barnes & Noble."