Downtown Merced is getting yet another new retail business -- a bookstore started by two UC Merced professors that will cater to both college students and general readers.
The City Council on Monday night approved a lease agreement with Cognitive Inc., which will run Off the Shelf Books, a new and used bookstore, in 805 square feet of retail space at the Merced Theatre.
"I wanted to say I'm really excited about this opportunity and what's coming into town here," Councilman Josh Pedrozo said at the meeting. "It's a great testament to where the downtown is headed."
Daniel Ainslie, development coordinator with the city's Redevelopment Agency, said the city will receive an estimated $17,700 in revenue for the first two years.
"If they want to remain in that location and the city agrees to it, the revenue from years three and four equals $19,000," he added.
The new and used bookstore, which will upgrade such minor improvements as paint, should be up and running by mid-September, said Joshua Ewen, redevelopment technician.
"The City Council is in support for any growth for downtown, especially when it comes to small businesses," he said.
The store will also have a buyback and sale center for textbooks that correspond to courses taught at UC Merced and Merced College. Off the Shelf Books is a startup business formed by two UC Merced professors. They first approached the city about six or seven months ago, Ainslie said.
Ewen said Merced residents will benefit from the bookstore, "giving the community more opportunity not only for used books but new books. Textbooks will really tie in anything from high school to college aged kids."
"Cognitive Inc. isn't affiliated with UC Merced," Ewen said. "There is a definite tie between the bookstore and the availability of books and what the university will require and tying in the students to downtown. Even so with Merced College. Their outlook is very broad on who they will be marketing to."
The recommended lease is for two years with a two-year option. Ewen said the bookstore doesn't have any immediate plans to hire any employees. "I'm sure as the business grows, it will probably bring upon a couple of staff," Ewen said.
The bookstore would join a well-known used bookstore, Second Time Around, also on Main Street.
Reporter Ameera Butt can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or abutt@mercedsun-star.com.
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