The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, an independent bookstore serving the Guilderland community for five decades, has announced it will relocate at the end of the year. The woman-owned business will move its collection of over 40,000 books to a new storefront within the same shopping plaza, a space it previously occupied nearly 40 years ago.
The move is scheduled to take place between December 28, 2025, and January 2, 2026. The new location is the former site of Eastern Mountain Sports, situated between Sur La Table and Athleta.
Key Takeaways
- The Book House will move to the former Eastern Mountain Sports location in Stuyvesant Plaza.
- The store will close at its current location on December 28 and reopen in the new space on January 2, 2026.
- The new 4,000-square-foot space is the same size as the current one but offers a different layout.
- Owner Susan Novotny plans a community "chain brigade" to help move the store's 40,000 books.
A Return to a Familiar Space
The Book House, a fixture in Stuyvesant Plaza since 1975, is preparing for its third move within the shopping center. The relocation will take the store from its current spot between Bountiful Bread and Apple Barrel Home + Pantré to a space it once called home during the 1980s.
Susan Novotny, the store's owner, views the move as a positive step forward. "This is our third move, so third time’s a charm," Novotny said, adding, "(This shows) you can go home again."
Discussions about a potential move began in 2022 after WS Development acquired the plaza. According to Novotny, the change presents an opportunity for renewal. "It’s always good to reinvent yourself and your space," she stated. "It gives us an opportunity to freshen everything up, rethink everything and make it a more beautiful and welcoming space to sell books."
A Legacy of Resilience
The Book House first opened in 1975 and has navigated significant changes in the retail landscape. The store faced considerable challenges in the early 1990s with the arrival of large chain bookstores like Barnes & Noble, which led to the closure of many independent shops in the region. Novotny recalled the period as an "uphill climb," but the store ultimately persevered, maintaining its place in the community for 50 years.
Details of the New Location
The new storefront will maintain the same 4,000-square-foot footprint as the current one but will feature a different configuration. The space will have an open ceiling and a retail area that is wider but shallower, providing a new customer experience.
One of the most significant changes involves The Little Book House, the store's dedicated children's section. It will be relocated from the back of the store to a more prominent position at the front.
"I’m going to be taking a lot of the feel and warmth of this store and making sure that it’s transposed down there so that there is the continuity for our regular customers," said owner Susan Novotny. "They’ll feel like they’re still at The Book House."
Novotny plans to create a "magical-looking arbor" for children to walk through to enter the section. The new location's proximity to the plaza’s new multipurpose turf area also offers opportunities for outdoor children's programming and author events.
The Logistics of Moving 40,000 Books
Transferring an entire bookstore, especially one with an inventory of over 40,000 books, presents a significant logistical challenge. The store is scheduled to close at its current location on December 28 and aims to reopen in the new space just a few days later, on January 2, 2026.
By the Numbers: The Book House
- 50 years in operation
- 40,000+ books in inventory
- 4,000 square feet of retail space
- 3rd move within Stuyvesant Plaza
To manage the immense task, Novotny has proposed a unique community-driven solution. She hopes to organize a "chain brigade," inviting community members to line up and pass books one by one from the old store to the new one, which is approximately a two-minute walk away.
"Needless to say, the move will be challenging," Novotny, 73, admitted. "The prospect of moving 40,000 books absolutely exhausts me." The community book brigade aims to turn a difficult task into a memorable event celebrating the store's deep roots in the area.
Changes and Growth at Stuyvesant Plaza
The Book House's relocation is part of a broader series of changes at Stuyvesant Plaza under its new ownership. Several other businesses have recently moved or opened, indicating a period of transition for the popular shopping center.
Recent Business Moves in the Plaza
- BARE Blends: The plant-based eatery relocated to a new space between Blaze Pizza and the Pottery Place.
- The 5th Corner Goods & Gifts: This store also moved to a new storefront within the plaza this year.
The plaza has also welcomed a number of new tenants over the past year, including Samantha Nass Floral Design, Rowan, Anthropologie, and Free People Movement. At the same time, some businesses, such as Penzeys Spices and Ten Thousand Villages, have departed.
Despite the changes, Novotny remains committed to her mission. "We’ve been a fixture in this community for 50 years now, and I and my staff are absolutely devoted to the community and keeping bookselling and reading alive," she said. "I hope we sell a whole lot more books."