Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
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channel for going forward. "Our newest concept takes book buying and selling to a whole new level," said Tyndall. "It is anything but your typical bookstore." The stores boast miles of shelf space for new and used items, and the merchan- dise changes daily, comprising books, music, games and toys, Nooks, iPads and more. Since opening its first 2nd & Charles store in Hoover, Ala., in Sep- tember 2010, the company has opened 18 more across 14 states. The most recent addition is a store that opened in Beaumont, Texas, in May. Recycled books at discounted prices are some- thing that appeals to consumers today, says Burmeister. "I think they are trying to adapt and come up with ways to com- pete against the online retailers," he said. Though some of the 2nd & Charles stores are as large as 30,000 square feet, most of them measure between 18,000 and 25,000 square feet. The company typically seeks locations with high vis- ibility and good cross-shopping oppor- tunities. The target customer is middle- income, and the target markets are those with at least 250,000 inhabitants within a 20-minute drive. The patrons of the company's other banners come in about once a month for a new book, but at 2nd & Charles, they are coming in the door about once a week. Books-A-Million has continued to grow and evolve by modifying its stores, introducing new concepts and adding an online sales channel. "We are very opportunistic," said Tyndall. "One of the secrets to our success has been our real estate." When Borders closed its stores, Books-A-Million snapped up 46 of them and converted them within a three-month window. The company's growth has followed a clear progression: First, there was the shift from newsstands to bookstores with Bookland, which opened about 50 mall stores in the 1970s. The com- pany opened its first Books-A-Million superstore in 1992. Another change took place about two decades on with the broadening of the merchandise mix and the adoption of a smaller footprint, shrinking the Books-A-Million big- box format from about 30,000 feet to 10,000 square feet or less. But the other product lines notwithstanding, books remain the core business. "Books are what we know," said Tyndall. "Books are what we do, and that remains to be the biggest percentage of sales through- out all of our stores." S C T For leasing, contact Shannon Tyndall, vice president of real estate, at (205) 909-0945, or TyndallS@booksamillion.com. CROWDS, SALES, LIKES, TWEETS, AND 150,000 CARS PASS BY EVERY DAY. THE STAGE IS SET FOR GREATNESS. Momentum is putting it mildly. The Collection at RiverPark is thriving with Target, Whole Foods, REI, Century Theatres, and H&M; all open and killing it. There's a host of new shops and restaurants as well, and events that attract thousands. This open-air specialty retail destination is an opportunity like no other. The best part? There's still space available. For leasing inquiries: Call Shea Properties at 858.526.6650 or CenterCal Properties at 310.563.6900 or visit TheCollectionRP.com/leasing. 20 S C T / J u l y 2 0 1 4 r e T a i l i n g T o d a y 18-20_SCT_JUL14_Books-a-Million.indd 20 6/12/14 5:50 PM