W.G. Grinders is out and the Student Book Exchange is in.

Although it has been discussed for the past year, renovations just began for the Student Book Exchange to expand into the vacated building that used to house W.G. Grinders.

Ideas of expanding circulated for a while but it did not take much time to secure and negotiate the lease once the opportunity came along, the store’s manager, Kent Kokomoor, said.

“I honestly thought SBX was closing down along with Grinders when I saw the sign and construction. I didn’t think they had the financial capacity to expand,” said junior Peter Drake.

The renovation will allow for the store to be reconfigured so it will be more accommodating and spacious for the customers by the June 1 expected completion date.

One of the most accommodating features that the Student Book Exchange will have following the renovations is a rear entrance. Kokomoor said customers are currently complaining about the walk around the block from the parking lot, but this should no longer be a problem.

Another aspect that Kokomoor is confident will please the customers is the extra moving room. There will be no more brushing elbows and it will be more handicap accessible, Kokomoor said.

The Student Book Exchange will also offer a larger textbook section.

“I go to SBX at the beginning of the semester to get textbooks so a larger selection would be great,” said sophomore Elise Hanson.

But junior Jenny Powers and sophomore Rebecca Comston would like to see a larger selection of general reading material for leisure as well, not just for class.

“I’m always looking for a large selection of books at any bookstore I go to,” said Comston.

The Student Book Exchange will also add to its already wide selection of Bowling Green State University Apparel.

“We’re so cramped for space, partly because we probably have the largest selection of BG imprint apparel. It will be nice to spread out,” said Kokomoor.

A small coffee shop is a possibility in the expansion for the Student Book Exchange, but has not been officially decided on.

With the coffee shop idea, Kokomoor hopes to provide a small and easily accessible place for students to get beverages off campus.

The purpose of the expansion is to provide more space and attract more students, said Kokomoor.

But despite the planned expansion, some students still prefer the University Bookstore in the Union.

“Now that I know SBX is expanding to provide a larger selection. I will definitely keep that in mind, but I still feel that the Union is more convenient,” said Drake.

This will be the second expansion for the Student Book Exchange in 50 years. The first happened in 1985 when a center wall was knocked out, Kokomoor said.