The University’s dream of bringing a CD store to the basement of the EMU appears to have been halted for the time being.
Plans to convert the video arcade section of The Break recreation area are on hold due to a lack of bids from interested businesses. Officially, the deadline to place a bid on the space was back in August, but it passed with nary an offer from an interested party.
Even if a music store were to open in the EMU, would students do their CD shopping there?
“I’d be okay with it,” said Nick Bostic, a senior business major. “When I heard about it, I thought, Face the Music is just down the street.” Face the Music is a music store located on 13th Avenue, near campus.
“If (the EMU music store) offered the same exact prices as Face the Music, it would do even better. There are so many people right here on campus,” Bostic said.
He also said that perhaps an EMU music store could allow students to use the Campus Cash feature on their student identification cards, and that “it would be cool if they had student discounts.”
Meredith Waverly, a sophomore majoring in English, agreed that the pricing of CDs would be a big factor in the success of a music store in the EMU.
“It would be convenient for people on campus to buy music. But most people download it,” Waverly said. “I usually just shop around.”
Waverly said that the high price of new CDs would be a big problem for any music store catering to young people.
“I think it’s a good idea, but realistically, being a college campus where people are already paying a lot of money, I just don’t think that it would thrive,” Waverly said.
The lack of interest from music stores was a big disappointment for Stephanie Winchester, manager of The Break.
“I have to admit that I was hesitant to change what we were doing down here, but once the decision was made [to bring a CD store to The Break], I was very disappointed that we didn’t get any bids,” Winchester said.
Winchester said one contributing factor to the lack of interest from music stores is the Request For Proposal (RFP) process that the EMU uses to lease business areas within its walls. The RFP process involves typing up a lengthy document that outlines every aspect of how the space will be used by a company interested in occupying it.
Winchester said the document is written in “legal-ese” and that “the RFP process for leases has become so long and cumbersome that it’s a daunting task to perform without hiring outside help.” She also said many smaller and independent music stores simply don’t have the resources to consult a lawyer solely for the purpose of exploring the possibility of expanding their stores.
The fact that The Break will not likely be housing a music store any time soon throws its future into the air. What will happen to The Break this fall?
Waverly said The Break staff has conducted surveys and research regarding what the students want. She said more and more students are using The Break as a studying lounge rather than a place to spend money.
“The EMU Board needs to make a decision about whether The Break needs to generate a profit. We’re going to work hard this fall to outreach to students and groups,” she said.