Biography

The College Bookstore has existed, in some shape or form, since Boston College made the move to its Chestnut Hill campus in 1913. As the campus grew in size and offerings, the campus bookstore also expanded. In 1958, the Bookstore began to offer the student body officially branded clothing in the form of a blazer, created in cooperation with the Robert Rollins Blazer Company of New York. By the 1960s, students began to openly criticize the expense of the products, running op-eds in publications such as The Heights. Student government even went so far as to form an investigative committee.

By 1985, the Bookstore had grown too unwieldy for Plant Services to manage. The university spun it off as a separate unit in 1985, reporting to the Financial Vice President and Treasurer. Later, the reporting lines shifted to the Vice President for Administration. Today, the Bookstore is part of Auxiliary Services and sells books, technology, and official Boston College “gear”. Purchases made online or in store at the Boston College Bookstore benefit the students and the College. The College receives annual financial allowances from its relationship with Boston College Bookstore that are in turn used to help support the academic mission of Boston College.

In 2021, Boston College announced a 10-year retail partnership with New Balance. This deal provoked a great deal of conversation nationally as the move was anticipated to bring in a large influx of cash. Previously, Boston College had partnered with Under Armour.

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