The former home of Student Book Exchange will not be empty for long.
U.S. Cellular plans to move into part of the space vacated by the textbook store within weeks. Two sandwich shops and a chocolatier also may soon join the cellular company at 1737 Sherman Ave.
SBX closed on Aug. 8, surprising many Northwestern professors who had already ordered textbooks for fall courses. For 64 years the store, under numerous owners, competed with Norris Bookstore for students’ textbook business.
Renovations have already begun on the U.S. Cellular retail store that is set to open on Nov. 1, said Gordon Magill, trustee manager for Family Properties, which owns the building.
In addition, the owner is negotiating leases with Roly Poly sandwich shop, Subway and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to fill in the rest of SBX’s 4,700-square-foot space, Magill said. U.S. Cellular will take up nearly half of the area.
“I can’t get over the demand for retail space in such a tight little area,” Magill said. “It was very surprising the number of offers that came in so fast.”
Family Properties spoke to at least 11 potential tenants interested in all or part of the space. The contract with U.S. Cellular has been signed, and Magill said he expects the chocolate factory and Roly Poly negotiations to finish soon.
Subway’s deal is less cemented, Magill said, but he added that neither Subway nor Roly Poly had expressed qualms about each other’s interest in the space. Subway already has a location at 1551 Sherman Ave., about two blocks further south. Subway would open next to Taco Bell, Magill said.
U.S. Cellular, which bought PrimeCo Wireless Communications earlier this year and provides service to 26 states, will open in the next space south.
Magill said U.S. Cellular has moved fast to open its store, which will be one of its larger locations.
“I’m really impressed with how quickly they’re trying to get in there,” he said.
Roly Poly, whose “rolled sandwiches,” or wraps, have made it a fast-growing franchise since its start six years ago, would open next to U.S. Cellular. The company, who operates three stores in Illinois, also sells soup, chili, frozen yogurt and ice cream, Magill said.
At the southern end of the space would be the chocolate factory. The Durango, Colo.-based company sells its candies at more than 200 shops nationwide.
Despite the high level of interest in the SBX space, Family Properties tried to attract tenants that would be a positive influence in the area, Magill said.
“I wanted to make sure they are stable companies and won’t desert the neighborhood,” he said.
