Books may be its business but more room and other departments will make this new store very popular.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 2299 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, will close its doors for good at 6 p.m. Tuesday. But it will quickly reopen at a new location, 333 E. Grand River Ave., when it has an open house from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the same night.

The party will feature a jazz combo from MSU and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Store Manager Kelli Flynn said the event is very exciting for employees.

“This is really exciting for us. We have a café in this location, because of the square feet we can have one,” she said.

But the new store has more than just a café.

With two entrances, an expanded music and movie selection, escalators leading to the lower floor and a study area, the store has several additions to welcome customers to two floors of the former Jacobson’s.

One area Flynn said will attract people is the student study area. The area is decorated with an MSU mural and has Internet connections for laptops.

The store also has extended its hours. It will be open 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Jim van Ravensway, director of Planning and Community Development for the city, said he is looking forward to attending the opening.

Ray Walsh owner of Curious Book Shop, 307 E. Grand River Ave., said it will add to East Lansing’s attractions.

“Anything that draws people down to East Lansing will be excellent,” he said.

But students are undecided about the new addition.

“There’s a place to buy classical music here in town now, but I don’t think another big corporation is what Grand River needs,” said Robert Jones, a music performance senior.

But Derek Engi said the store is just what East Lansing needs.

“It creates competition and that is good because it makes stores lower their prices,” the computer science sophomore said.