MARSHALL - A book store is coming to Marshall.
Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) is taking donations of used books of all kinds so it can open a book store and lounge at The Village, its store at 309 East College Drive, Suite 307, across from Freedom gas station.
"All age groups, all types and all topics," said Jeff Schemmel, a SIFE member.
"The only books we don't want are old textbooks or old Encyclopedia Brittanicas," said John Gochenouer, professor of business administration at Southwest Minnesota State University and a Sam Walton Fellow in SIFE. "If this is a success, we might see new books, too."
The public can drop off used books at The Village from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 6, said Rachel Myhre, a SIFE member. The students will also pick up books if word is left with Myhre at 507-828-2377 or rachel.myhre@smsu.edu.
The group wants to open the store on March 15, but that could change, Schemmel said.
"We've got a ways to go," Gochenouer said. "It's going to take a couple thousand books."
"It's another opportunity to raise money for scholarships at SMSU," said Myhre.
The idea stemmed from the Southwest Minnesota State University's accounting club's used textbook sale, Myhre said.
The students had also noticed there was "no used book store," added Schemmel.
"Or new book store," added Gochenouer.
"In SIFE, we have seven different categories and one of those is entrepreneurship," said Luke Bryce, president of SIFE. "By creating a book store, not only is it helping the community by having another business, but it gives the members an opportunity to get the experience to run their own business and that is great because it aligns with the core values of Students In Free Enterprise."
The front room of the store is currently filled with Clarkfield Outdoors hunting clothes. That product will be moved to another room.
"We think the book store will give us a year-round business and Clarkfield Outdoors will be a seasonal product," Gochenouer said.
The front room will be remodeled to give it a more homey atmosphere.
"We have a local donor who will provide furniture to give the store a living room look," Gochenouer said.
"Couple sofas, couple end tables," said Schemmel. "Comfortable, relaxed environment, maybe a children's area. Put in an Internet cafe."
"It will have wireless," Gochenouer said. "If people bring in their laptop, we will have high-speed Internet."
"Could probably use more book shelves," Myhre said.
"If people have nice book shelves, we'll gladly take them," said Bryce.
"We're really excited to be able to offer this to the community and hope the community will be excited about having this place to meet and relax and read some books," Bryce said.
