Updated Apr. 3, 7:50 a.m.—
Citrus Heights will be getting a new bookstore on Greenback Lane this summer, with Half Price Books planning to open its first Sacramento-region store in the Citrus Town Center.
“We’ve long heard from our customers and fans there was a need for a Half Price Books in the Sacramento area,” said the company’s California District Manager Matt Dalton in an email interview with The Sentinel this week. His comments were also reflected by Citrus Heights Mayor Sue Frost, who said she expects the bookstore to be a popular spot in a city that “loves to read.”
With its first store opening in 1972, the new-and-used bookstore brand has expanded locations to 16 states, promising almost everything at “half the publisher’s price or less,” according to the company’s website.
Despite the bankruptcy of bookstores like Borders in the digital age, Half Price Books is bucking the trend and opening new stores in Texas and Ohio this year as well, according to Dalton.
“Because of our selection and prices, we’ve been able to remain profitable in the digital age,” said Dalton, answering the “is-print-dead” question asked by some in today’s iPad and Nook generation. He said along with new bestsellers, Half Price Books carries “thousands of titles not found in digital formats, out-of-print items, and one-of-a-kinds.”
Although currently empty inside, the 7975 Greenback Lane location already advertises the anticipated summer opening, along with window signs announcing a $500 “Win Books For a Year” promotion. According to company spokesperson Emily Bruce, the gift card giveaway was launched in celebration of the new Citrus Heights store.
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The new 8,268 square feet store will be the bookstore chain’s fifth location in California, with the closest stores being in Berkeley and Concord, according to a list posted on the company’s website.
Dalton said his team is currently collecting books for the store’s inventory, with the bulk of construction set to begin when the company takes possession of the property in mid-May.
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