The Wofford College Bookstore is getting a new location that’s allowing the college to reimagine how the store has traditionally been used.
The store is the anchor for The Hub, a new 16,699-square-foot shopping plaza with space for retail and restaurants at 578 N. Church St. A soft opening for the store will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. A grand-opening celebration will take place from 2-5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5. Everyone shopping during the celebration will save 30% when purchasing clothing and gifts.
“The campus bookstore is often a must-visit location at colleges and universities,” says Chris Gardner, Wofford’s chief financial officer. “It’s a place frequented by the entire campus community, parents, alumni and friends of the college whether they are looking for books, clothing to support the college’s athletics teams or the perfect gift. The store also has the potential to be a natural gathering spot when hosting authors and various other conversations and events.”
The new bookstore is 5,758 square feet. It also shares outdoor space with other tenants at The Hub that could be used to host events.
“We are thrilled to have Wofford at The Hub,” says Michael Fletcher, the developer for the project. “The location is a natural extension of the campus, and the college has been instrumental in bringing the community’s vision for a new retail development in the Northside to a reality. The bookstore is the anchor of the project, and Wofford’s presence has enabled us to recruit other great businesses to The Hub.”
Sully’s Steamers, a sandwich shop, opened on Nov. 19, and Moe’s Original BBQ is expected to open by early January. A coffee and ice cream shop will open in the spring. One space remains available for lease at The Hub.
The bookstore’s current location at 501 N. Church St. is closed while the store is moving merchandise to the new location for Saturday’s opening at The Hub.
The Hub is on the site of the former Sunshine Inn. Harper General Contractors was the contractor, SeamonWhiteside was the civil engineering firm and McMillan Pazdan Smith was the architecture firm. The redevelopment of the site was initiated by the Northside Development Group, a nonprofit focused on managing and redeveloping Spartanburg’s Northside community in partnership with residents.
The shopping center complements revitalization efforts taking place along the city’s north side and the college’s continued integration into the Northside community.