J. August in Harvard Square displays a sign announcing new management and hiring. The nearly 140-year-old store will reopen Friday after a two-month renovation closure. By Lia E. Shepler
By Adam Han, Crimson Staff Writer
Yesterday
J. August, the nearly 140-year-old Harvard Square merchandise store across from Harvard Yard, will reopen Friday under new management after closing for renovations in December.
The store, located on Massachusetts Avenue, will now be operated by Rally House, a Kansas-based sports merchandise retailer that manages more than 300 collegiate-affiliated stores nationwide. The reopening follows a two-month closure that marked the end of J. August’s previous operating arrangement.
The COOP — operating under Barnes & Noble’s management since 1995 — purchased J. August’s lease in 2004, bringing the historic storefront under its control.
In a statement, COOP CEO Jodi Goldstein said the organization partnered with Rally House in hopes of “building on its heritage” while expanding its merchandise to include “archival graphics, classic collegiate design, and the legacy of Harvard.”
Rally House CEO Aaron Liebert said the company plans to give J. August a distinct identity, separate from the COOP’s flagship store.
“We’re not trying to copy the COOP. We’re trying to be different,” Liebert said. “We’re trying to have some uniqueness, give people a reason to shop.”
The store will host a soft opening on Friday, with a grand opening scheduled for March. Rally House has also launched a dedicated J. August website, allowing customers to order merchandise for delivery or in-store pickup.
Liebert said that his team was first introduced to Harvard Square “about a year ago” and has spent months preparing for the reopening.
“Our team has been spending the last several months really trying to curate an assortment that’s unique to Harvard, to the Square, and to Cambridge,” he said.