East Lansing Barnes & Noble closing

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One of the downtown East Lansing business anchors is closing.

Barnes & Noble, located in the oldJacobson’s Building on the corner of Grand River Avenue and CharlesStreet, is shutting its doors on Dec. 31, said David Deason, vicepresident of development for Barnes & Noble Booksellers Inc. Deasoncited the end of the lease term as the reason for the closure.

A source said that employees were toldthe company and building owner were unable to agree on the cost of anew lease, causing the closure. The owner is City Center Partners 2 LLC.

Several employees were questioned aboutthe closure at the store, but declined to comment after a 2 p.m. staffmeeting at which the news was announced. One floor manager directedquestions to the company’s corporate communications manager, ArielleBerlin, who released Deason’s statement. 

No word has been given on what will fill the very large hole to be left by the store, which occupies a generous corner lot.

When the East Lansing Barnes & Noblecloses its doors, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Schuler Books & Musicwill be the closest major bookstore operation. Schuler has a location at  MeridianMall in Okemos, as well as one at the Eastwood Towne Center in LansingTownship. Barnes & Noble will have a remaining location at theLansing Mall in Eaton County.

The store opened in September 2001,after the store moved to Meridian Mall the previous year. The two-storybuilding holds over 100,000 books, CDs and movies and also includes acoffee shop.

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