New store to specialize in overruns; cafe to expand and become "upscale diner."
By: Jennifer Potash
A new community bookstore, specializing in overruns, will fill the space now occupied by the Princeton Public Library at the Princeton Shopping Center next year.
And the popular Café at the rear of the library will expand to become an "upscale diner" offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, said Jon Cross, co-owner of the Café.
Dana Comfort, of George Comfort & Sons, the New York City-based real estate firm that manages the shopping center, said the remaining space after the café is accounted for approximately 13,000 square feet will be subdivided. About 9,600 square feet on the upper and lower floors will be devoted to the bookstore, Chestnut Tree Books, owned by Ira and Pamela Kaye of East Windsor.
The Comfort firm is negotiating with prospective tenants for the smaller space and has several "good prospects," Mr. Comfort said.
Reached at his home Wednesday, Mr. Kaye said a bookstore is a dream he and his wife have shared for many years.
Though they initially considered opening up a science fiction and fantasy specialty bookstore in downtown Princeton Borough, the Kayes spent time at bookseller seminars, studied the local market and decided instead to focus on a publisher’s overrun format which permits books to be sold at usually half the list price. The inventory will be bestsellers, but not the most recent releases, Mr. Kaye said.
"We can’t compete with the Barnes & Noble or Borders," he said.
Beyond books, Mr. Kaye envisions Chestnut Tree Books as a community gathering space and a place for both children and adults to continue to learn.
"We want to promote nonlinear learning and other kinds of learning," said Mr. Kaye.
The Kayes’ 9-year-old daughter, who is dyslexic and attends The Lewis School, enjoys reading, but learns through different methods, he said.
One plan is to invite children to write a brief autobiography about growing up in Princeton and work with local authors and writers to improve their work, Mr. Kaye said. The best example would be collected into a book and offered for sale at the store.
"It’s another way to look holistically at reading, writing and other forms of communication," Mr. Kaye said.
Mr. Kaye would also like children from the local elementary schools to create murals with a chestnut tree theme to be displayed in the store.
Some residents have lobbied Princeton Public Library officials and Princeton Township Committee members to keep a branch at the shopping center when the library moves into its new downtown facility in March.
A bookstore is a different use from a library, but Mr. Kaye wants to encourage reading groups and other small groups in his space.
He envisions holding movie and book nights so participants could, for example, watch the film "To Kill a Mockingbird," and afterward discuss the movie and book.
Early design plans include an electric fireplace so patrons may enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while perusing books. The children’s space will have a large aquarium to encourage children to feel comfortable and more willing to read and learn.
The bookstore would likely open in August and its hours are expected to be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, Mr. Kaye said.
The Café is nearing a deal with the shopping center to expand its space to serve three meals plus the popular Sunday brunch, said Mr. Cross.
"I think of it as a kind of an upscale diner where the adults could have chicken dinner and the kids a grilled cheese sandwich," he said.
Instead of accessing the eatery from the retail store, The Café will have its own entrance, he said.
Mr. Kaye said he had preliminary conversations with The Café owners about providing a concession stand inside the bookstore.