Off Campus "Spirit Store" Coming Soon!

The Forty Niner Shops Inc. hopes to open up an off campus "spirit shop" December 1 on Second Street.
"The number one reason is to build the university brand on the community and make items more accessible to alumni. It's not easy to come on campus if you're not a student," said Don Penrod, CEO and General Manager of the Forty Niner Shops Inc.
The shop on Second Street will have some different items than the bookstore on campus, including, golf equipment, baby clothes and possibly pet clothing. According to Penrod, the pricing will be relatively the same.
"The campus doesn't expect to make money in the first year, but we hope to be successful starting in year two," said Penrod.
If you want to visit the store, it will be at the existing BB Harris location, on the corner of Second and Glendora.

Quick Profile of Don Penrod

Don Penrod is the CEO and General Manager of the Forty Niner Shops Inc.
He began working for retail/food and beverage at St. Louis Community College, and after that moved into the private sector at Walt Disney World, Florida. Hearing about the job at CSULB, he egarly applied for it, got it and moved him and his wife to California.
He likes working at CSULB, he says it's exciting and there is always something to do.
He says he is committed to the students and wants to continue to help them get jobs on campus by opening new businesses like the upcoming Starbucks, while they further their education.

Enrollment Goes Up & Bookstore Sales Go Down

According to Don Penrod, CEO and General Manager of the Forty Niner Shops Inc., as student enrollment increases, the book sales at the bookstore decreases.
He believes it has to do with online purchasing of books.
"We are selling a convenience, we try to price ourselves as affordable as possible. The market of textbooks is changing," said Penrod.
Figuring out what will happen to the bookstore in the future is another challenge for Penrod. He hopes it will evolve from books to a more digital format.