Harvard Book Store to Open Downtown Boston Location
The 3,500-square-foot bookstore will add a cafe in fall 2026, offering a roadmap for retailers balancing retail and hospitality.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Harvard Book Store owners Jeff Mayersohn and Linda Seamonson plan to expand into downtown Boston by opening a second location at 33 Union St. in fall 2026. The new 3,500-square-foot bookstore will share the building with an adjoining 1,500-square-foot Lakon Paris Patisserie cafe.
Why it matters
The expansion signals a strategic move to secure foot traffic in a high-density downtown corridor by blending curated retail space with hospitality amenities. Owners are betting that integrating food service and event licensing will provide a more resilient revenue mix in the physical bookstore segment.
The new site covers 3,500 square feet of book retail space alongside 1,500 square feet for an integrated cafe. This expansion follows 18 years of operations under the current owners, who also secured a license to serve wine for future events.
The players
Harvard Book Store
An independent bookseller with nearly two decades of operation under current ownership.
Lakon Paris Patisserie
A cafe operator with four established locations.
Jeff Mayersohn
The co-owner of the Harvard Book Store since 2008.
Linda Seamonson
The co-owner of the Harvard Book Store since 2008.
The details
The expansion relies on mirroring the architectural character of the original Cambridge flagship through exposed brick and oversized window installations. Operators are retrofitting the Yankee Publishing Building with custom flooring and shelving, while also incorporating a fully licensed hospitality space to support programming and evening events.
Timeline
October 2008: Jeff Mayersohn and Linda Seamonson purchased the Harvard Book Store.
Fall 2026: The new Boston store location is scheduled to open.
Market Landscape
This opening follows a broader industry trend of independent retailers diversifying revenue streams by adding third-party food and beverage partnerships to bookstore footprints. The move positions the firm to capture downtown foot traffic, mirroring successful hybrid retail models seen elsewhere.
Operators looking to expand should evaluate the floor-space efficiency of integrating high-margin hospitality partners like cafes into their footprint. Before finalizing lease terms, confirm that local licensing allows for the sale of alcohol if your business model relies on hosting ticketed evening events.
The takeaway
Successful retail expansion relies on maintaining brand identity while securing high-traffic locations that accommodate auxiliary service partners. Owners should track the impact of combined retail-cafe models on average transaction value to determine the viability of future multi-use sites.
Further reading
For more coverage of local retail growth, visit the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBUR 90.9 mHz.
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