Popular Student Book Store Celebrates 50 Years in Downtown East Lansing

The Student Book Store (SBS) at 421 E. Grand River Avenue in downtown East Lansing is celebrating its golden anniversary: 50 years in business.

According to excerpts from the article:

When Howard Ballein was first hired to work at a bookstore in 1952, he was paid 70 cents per hour. When he opened Student Book Store, or SBS in 1960, books sold for about $6 and the store was 1,800 square feet.

Ballein decided to open a store in East Lansing because of the market potential for used books sales and another, less business-related draw, he said.

“I was 26, and I thought the women here were the best looking ones,” said Ballein as he sat with his wife and two sons, who all work with him, in his office overlooking the store. “I got offered the job, so I came up here.”

Now as Ballein, 76, celebrates the store’s 50th year in East Lansing, textbook prices have increased tenfold and SBS, 421 E. Grand River Ave., has expanded to 25,000 square feet of retail and 19,000 square feet of warehouse space.

Read the entire article here.