Two weeks after its official opening, Sacramento State’s 53,000-square-foot Hornet Bookstore received a new director, 17-year book industry veteran Pam Parsons.

Parsons, who was brought in two months after former director Julia Milardovich resigned, said her time spent as the general manager of a Palo Alto Borders is what qualified her for the job.

“The management structure is similar,” she said.

Parsons, whose primary responsibility is bookstore promotion, said she was impressed with the overall look and size of the new building.

“This is the best looking bookstore I’ve ever (seen),” Parsons said.

She said the store’s large size offers more space for cash registers and employees.

Extra space and additional employees are expected to make the lines shorter and quicker.

Parsons said the wait at the new store will be much faster than that of the old, 28,000-square-foot store where lines were sometimes known to extend outside the building.

Executive Director of University Enterprises, Inc. Matt Altier said the bookstore’s large size also allows for a greater variety of products including general books, apparel, gifts, software, textbooks and school supplies.

The bookstore also began offering digital versions of various books, President Alexander Gonzalez said at his annual Fall Address on Thursday.

Altier said University Affairs entered the project with the goal of creating an atmosphere similar to a Borders or Barnes & Noble. He said the building’s spaciousness, Java City Coffee House and architecture help fulfill this goal.

Gonzalez said $1 million provided by Follett Higher Education Group went toward the store’s interior.

Sophomore business major Sheeva Tageran said the store’s appearance and size add to its overall appeal.

“I like the atmosphere and how everything looks so new,” Tageran said. “I also like how spacious it is…it’s (definitely) somewhere I’d want to spend time.”

Students can also gather outside in the European-style plaza.

“The plaza will have several trellises and benches,” Altier said. “Because of the large flat footprint, there will be plenty of space for activities, gatherings, events, etc.”

He said the $23 million used to finance the structure was borrowed from a systemwide revenue bond.

“We didn’t get a penny from state money or the University?we’re going to (pay) it back over the next 25 years,” Altier said.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Joseph Sheley said University Enterprises, Inc. formulated a plan to utilize the old building’s location and space. The first two floors will be used for classrooms with the third floor set aside for office or storage space.

Gonzalez confirmed that the building’s first floor will include five to eight classrooms, as was requested by a number of college deans.

Evelyn Bigelyaizen can be reached at [email protected].