Former SBX storefront remains for sale
The Student Book Exchange, also known as SBX, received 37 calls requesting location information since closing its doors in July of 2014.
Many callers are interested in turning the building into a mixed retailed store with a second story for student housing, said real estate agent for the property Jim Engler.
“The bottom floor would be a retail store and the second floor could be a zoning issue that would have to be thought through,” Engler said.
The SBX building doesn't have a second story. If a second story was built for student housing purposes, parking might be a problem because there are not many parking spots available, Engler said.
The store, located on 209 Bellows Street, was open for 50 years before closing. SBX close its doors because it was struggling to compete with other bookstores in a stagnant economy, especially with students often purchasing textbooks online, said a past SBX employee.
A fire sprinkler system would also need to be added, which Engler said could be an expensive project.
Despite being unaware of any forthcoming projects on the property, the city would like to see the site activated, said Jacob Kain, Mount Pleasant city planner.
If a person wanted to reconstruct or renovate the location, the city would be interested to see “what potential they see there," said Kain.
“We would be interested in moving something forward. The main thing is that we want to see the site utilized and not just sit vacant,” he said. “We don’t like to see empty storefronts. From the city perspective, we’d like to see activity there, whether it’s commercial or office use.”
While there are no specific affects on the value of the neighborhood because of a vacant store front, Kain said it might imply that the business didn't succeed or if it has tenets, it isn't getting a revenue stream anymore.
Since Kaya Coffee House isn't in located in the SBX building, Kain said that he doesn't believe it'll directly affect the coffee house.
"Kaya is allowed use in that district, but they could relocate in the C-1 District if someone buys that building," he said.
Broomfield junior Emma Lazarus said she’d like to see a bookstore that mimics a Barnes and Noble, "but less corporate and more thrifty."
