After operating across the street from ASU's Tempe campus for 49 years, the locally-familiar Student Book Center will be closing its doors for good.
The store has stayed at the same location since its founding in 1967 and is currently operated by the founders' daughter, Therese Stohlgren.
The store's closure is scheduled for May 31 and came about as a result of a new developer purchasing the leases to several of the businesses on the same block as Student Book Center, she said.
Stohlgren said the store holds memories of her childhood when she would come in and play while her parents were establishing a business that would last nearly five decades.
"I used to come here and just play when I was little," she said. "Getting pushed around in the little carts."
In keeping with tradition, all three of Stohlgren's children worked at the bookstore, as well. Her infant granddaughter now plays around the store, signifying four decades of their family's presence in the community.
Stohlgren's cousin, Christi Johnson — a Nebraska transplant, has been working at the store on and off for 30 years as a clerk. Johnson said she became a full-time employee eight years ago and has stayed on ever since.
"We moved out here from Nebraska about 32 years ago," Johnson said. "My uncle was always looking for extra help, so I'd always come down and work and it was a lot of fun."
Johnson said working with family has enabled their whole family to bond beyond their blood ties.
"Some families can't work together so good," she said. "It brings a real closeness and ... it's not just our family relationship — being cousins — but it's about relationships with customers."
Working at the family business has given Johnson and her family an opportunity to connect with the community, she said.
"We have so many that come in every day, especially these past couple weeks, and ... you just get to know them, and it's fun," Johnson said.
Darrell Lemmer, who used to be roommates with Christi Johnson's brother, has been working at the store since January of 2009.
"I just moved back to the valley and I needed a job, and there was an opening," he said.
Lemmer said he believes in supporting local businesses, and believes working at the Student Book Center has given him an opportunity to put that into practice.
"It's sad that it's going away because that's just another small business that's no longer going to be around," he said. "But I've been friends of the family for a long time, too, so it's doubly."
Lemmer said he graduated from ASU 25 years ago and sees his job as a way to give back to the community of his alma mater.
Giving back to the community is a notion widely held among those at Student Book Center. Stohlgren said serving ASU has made her feel right at home.
"It's just a great place to work," Stohlgren said. "Being around younger people keeps you young."
Reach the reporter at jwbowlin@asu.edu or follow @mrjoshuabowling on Twitter.
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