Convenience market opens in Campus Square

	Contest winner Gerry Kasten, right, accepts her gift certificate to the Lehigh University Bookstore from general manager Steve Schatten.

Market on the Square, a new standalone convenience store operated by Barnes and Noble, opened Wednesday, offering food, candy, toiletries, and other items.
Lehigh is following the successful pattern put in place by schools such as Texas A&M and Wayne State, which have bookstores and standalone convenience markets operated by Barnes and Noble.
Steve Schatten, the new manager of the Lehigh University Bookstore, is enthusiastic about the convenience market.
This will allow us to offer students an increased selection of general merchandise,” he says. “We are excited about bringing in new products based on student requests and feedback.
Until students return, hours for Market on the Square are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once the semester starts on Aug. 25, Market on the Square will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Last spring, Lehigh announced a contest for students to name the convenience market. Mark Ironside, executive director of business services, was astounded by the number of entries his department received. The winning nomination was Market on the Square, an entry submitted by College of Education graduate student and Bethlehem resident Gerry Kasten. Kasten received a gift certificate for textbooks at the bookstore.
By opening Market on the Square, the bookstore was able to construct the Barnes and Noble Cafe on the main floor of the bookstore. The newfound space in Market on the Square for convenience items also allows an expansion on items such as organic and natural foods, energy bars, makeup and toiletries, and grocery foods.
The Barnes and Nobel Café in the bookstore opened Aug. 11. Both the Café and Market on the Square will have grand opening celebrations sometime during the fall semester.
--Brynn Buskirk