Johns Hopkins selects new partner for campus store

A new partner has been selected to operate Johns Hopkins University's campus store in Charles Village following a comprehensive process informed by faculty and student feedback and needs.

Follett Higher Education Group, a leading national provider with extensive experience managing campus stores, was chosen to run the store adjacent to the university's Homewood campus and support the distribution of JHU course materials. Follett was selected following a comprehensive review process that included input from university leaders as well as more than 2,000 students and more than 500 faculty members.

Follett will assume operations in June from Barnes & Noble, which has run the campus store since 2006, when it was relocated from the basement of Gilman Hall to the corner of St. Paul and 33rd streets.

Follett currently operates more than 1,000 on- and off-campus retail locations and e-commerce websites across the country, including brick-and-mortar campus stores at Vanderbilt, Stanford, New York University, and George Washington. Follett offers a nearly unlimited selection of customizable apparel and other items, said Matt Moss, assistant vice provost for Hopkins Dining and auxiliary services, along with a commitment to local procurement, local merchandise, and sustainable products, all qualities that align with goals and values articulated in the university's Ten for One strategic plan.

"Throughout the selection process, Follett demonstrated a profound understanding of higher education and the bookstore industry while balancing innovation and enhancing service to university faculty, students, and community members," Moss said.

Under Follett's direction, the campus store is expected to expand its merchandise and apparel offerings. Students and others will be able to customize their own Hopkins-branded merch via the Follett website. The store will also retain elements that have made it successful and popular with both the JHU and broader communities over the years, including book signings by Johns Hopkins-affiliated and local authors, art exhibitions, live music events, and family-friendly gatherings.

As part of the transition to Follett, course material purchases will be moved online, and students will have easy and direct access to all materials with the option for direct delivery or store pickup.

Visitors to the campus store can expect to see changes throughout the summer, including the relocation of the JHU Tech Store to the campus store space. A larger-scale renovation of the campus store is anticipated during the summer of 2026.