With Genentech Hall nearly fully occupied, one nearly complete and two other buildings well under construction, business continues to grow at the Mission Bay Campus Bookstore.

Located off the lobby on the first floor of Genentech Hall, the store is a smaller-sized version of the UCSF Bookstore on the Parnassus campus. "Business has been steady and it's been picking up as labs move in," says Lalit Lakshmanan, supervisor of the Mission Bay campus store.

Lakshmanan, who first moved into the teaching and research building in January 2003, will see the demand for products and services continue to increase as more research buildings open, including one the fall.

"Whatever people need and we have at the main store, whether it's computer or office supplies, we can provide here," he says. Indeed, the Mission Bay store sells everything from lab coats to Empact! Presents raffle tickets.

The store also can order items not carried at the Parnassus bookstore through Corporate Express, which delivers supplies the following day.

One of the least-known facts about the services available at the store is that it offers drop-in Notary Public services, as Lakshmanan is a certified Notary.

"We do special orders all the time for special computer supplies," he says.

In the six months the store has been operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, the hottest sellers have been the candy and snacks. The least desirable items, he says, have been the UCSF gift items, which typically sell well at the Parnassus store.

As a result, the store expanded its candy and snack selection and decreased the gift section, he adds.

The Mission Bay store, part of Campus Auxiliary Services, is a nonprofit organization that is a self-supporting enterprise.

For an expanded list of products and services, please go to the Mission Bay store webpage.

Last updated January 28, 2005

Genentech Hall bookstore

A campus bookstore occupies space on the main floor of Genentech Hall. Photo by Majed.