OGDEN -- After several months of preparation, Deseret Book opens today as an anchor tenant in the $11 million Earnshaw Building under construction at The Junction development downtown.
The bookstore occupies about 6,900 square feet on the ground floor of the six-story building, said Mark Clegg, a vice president of Deseret Book.
Deseret Book has 38 stores in nine Western states and is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In addition to books, The Junction store has an art gallery, a Lion's House Pantry Express that sells baked goods and also space for LDS Distribution Services' clothing and curriculum items.
Deseret Book's store at 514 N. 325 East in Harrisville has been closed to make way for the new store at The Junction.
The company's store at 4151 S. Riverdale Road will remain open.
Deseret Book has had a presence in the Ogden area for more than 50 years and was located at the former Ogden City Mall, now the site of The Junction, until its move to Harrisville in 2001.
"We are proud to be a part of downtown," Clegg said of Deseret Book's return to larger quarters in Ogden.
Deseret Book will be an outstanding addition to The Junction, which features entertainment, shopping, restaurants and apartments, said Richard McConkie, the city's deputy director of community and economic development.
"It adds variety to the existing development and is well-situated to the Ogden LDS Temple," he said.
David Earnshaw, developer of the Earnshaw building, is pleased that the Deseret Book store has opened at The Junction.
"It's a good place for it surrounding the temple," he said Wednesday. "I think it will do very well there. I wish them the best of luck."
The Earnshaw Building's first floor encompasses 16,500 square feet of retail space; the second floor has 7,100 feet of office space.
Floors three through six will have 28 condominiums, each with 1,600 square feet to 3,000 square feet.
Earnshaw said completion of the entire building will depend on how quickly the economy rebounds.
Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.
Comments