LINCOLN – There is a big change in the horizon at SCC Lincoln Campus. A new campus store is being built, and it is expected to be open by January 3, 2017.
The new store will be located to the north of the cafeteria. This space was previously used as classrooms, and the print shop will be moved directly across the hall.
When the new area is completed and the book store is moved, the Food Service/Hospitality program will use the space that the bookstore is currently using.
The credit for this new campus store will be to the SCC maintenance crew and some sub-contractors hired to complete this project.
“I’m excited; it’s a big change,” Jolene Bishay, a part-time employee at the bookstore, said.
The layout should be more user-friendly throughout the entire store, with a neater look and displays for clothing and supplies.
Stephany Phillips, a part-time bookstore employee, commented, “It should be bigger, with a different layout.” Phillips reported feeling excited about the upcoming change.
This new layout will include a grab-n-go section that will be especially convenient to students who are at the campus when the cafeteria is not open for business.
The candy section will also be larger, and there will be a freezer section with microwavable items, along with sandwiches, pop and other items to choose from in the refrigerator section.
In addition, the look of the store will be brighter, the ceilings will be taller and the design will be more compatible with the updated campus.
Sedlacek and all of the full-time staff at the current bookstore are utilizing weekly meetings to prepare everyone for the big changes ahead. Sedlacek used the employees ideas to help the whole store come together.
She said there will be a need for about three more staff members on board when the new store opens.
The contractors are not only working on the inside, preparing what will be the new campus store, they are also working above the store to fix the roof. Sedlacek had been wary of moving all of the inventory over to that side without the roof being in optimal working condition.
Sedlacek expressed that she was nervous, but optimistic about the opening date of the new store.
“It is hard to picture everything coming together,” she said.
Bookstore staff will have to come in during the winter break to move everything over to the new store.
“It’s a little different than moving desks and chairs over to a new classroom,” Sedlacek explained. “We are moving all of our inventory and having to organize it all.”
Candra Reynolds, a student of the office professional program.  She said, “It will feel a lot like the [UNL] University Store, but with a community college feel to it.”
Reynolds, like many other students, have not heard much about the new campus store opening and was interested to learn about the plans.