The event featured remarks from President Marie Hardin and bookstore partners Follett Higher Education, followed by a ribbon-cutting and a student fashion show showcasing merchandise available in the store.

The bookstore relocated from the Carl Hansen Student Center to a newly renovated freestanding building located inside the main entrance of the Mount Carmel Campus. Formerly the Faculty Office Building, the 15,000 square-foot space combines two levels of shopping and opened to students on January 20, 2026, at the start of the spring semester, with the March ceremony held to formally celebrate the move.

Jane Mitchell, group vice president for Follett Higher Education, welcomed attendees and thanked the teams that helped bring the new store to life. She specifically acknowledged the Quinnipiac bookstore staff members and Follett’s SOAR store support team for their work preparing the space for opening day.

“We’re so excited to be here celebrating the grand opening of this beautiful new bookstore,” Mitchell said. “Thank you to the SOAR team and everyone who helped make this possible. It truly took a great partnership and a lot of hard work to get us here.”

Mitchell also encouraged attendees to explore the store and take advantage of special promotions offered during the celebration, including 30% off select products and Tech Tuesday discounts on tech accessories.

Ryan Petersen, president of Follett Higher Education, reflected on Quinnipiac’s long history and the collaborative effort behind the bookstore’s development. He described the new bookstore as a space designed to support the university community while reflecting Quinnipiac’s long history of growth and innovation.

Peterson also noted that the project was the result of a collaborative effort between Follett teams and university leaders, thanking campus partners who helped guide the design and construction of the new space.

“It’s truly an honor to be part of this grand opening,” Petersen said. “This project was a major team effort, from our field teams to the design and construction partners, as well as the incredible team here at Quinnipiac.”

Quinnipiac President Marie Hardin shared her enthusiasm for the new space, saying it has already had a positive impact on campus engagement.

“This is such a welcoming and fun environment,” Hardin said. “We’re thrilled with how the store looks and feels, and the response from our community has been fantastic. But it’s not just the wonderful layout of this store. You know what else it is? It’s the people who greet you. It’s that Quinnipiac smile. And it’s that welcoming team helping and talking with you when you come in … and wanting to know about your day.”

Hardin also pointed to strong early results since the store’s soft opening. “We actually saw a 50% increase in sales in February,” she said. “That tells us students, faculty and staff are excited about this space.”

Follett market leader Cheryl Cartier also commented on the significance of the new space.

“Congratulations to Quinnipiac on the opening of this incredible new bookstore,” said Cartier. “This place is more than just a store. It represents Bobcat pride, student life, everything that makes Quinnipiac unique.”

Following the remarks, leaders joined Boomer to officially cut the ribbon and enjoy refreshments with attendees.

The celebration continued with a student-led fashion show that showcased Quinnipiac apparel, accessories and other merchandise available in the store. Students modeled items ranging from everyday campus clothing to game-day gear, cozy blankets and accessories designed to celebrate school spirit.

Seniors Madison Loffredo ’26, an education major, and Kelsey Sernio ’26, a psychology major, were among the students who stopped by the newly renovated bookstore to browse the updated space and see what had changed.

“It looks so much nicer, and it’s easier to find things in here, too,” said Sernio. “It just looks great, and it’s fun to shop in this new space.”

As music played and guests explored the store’s expanded selection of apparel, gifts and accessories on two floors, the two seniors reflected on how much the bookstore has evolved during their time at Quinnipiac.

“Everything’s in one spot and more convenient, plus it’s a great atmosphere,” said Loffredo. “We’re seniors now, so we saw how the bookstore was when we first started, and it’s nothing compared to this. We’re honestly kind of sad that it looks so nice, and we’re leaving. But it’ll be good to come back and shop as alumni.”

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