Gifford said the HSDF was still contemplating whether or not it would appeal the Commission’s decision.

SPACE FOR SALE

In addition to later hours, the year ahead should bring even more new businesses to the Square.

Two real estate managers, Richard Getz and DiGiovanni, said there is interest in filling the current vacancies.

And Louisa Solano, who announced in March that she would close the Grolier Poetry Book Shop, citing internet competition, said at least nine people were interested in purchasing the space.

“It will be open until it sells,” she said.

In January, the Coop purchased the lease for the J. August space. At the same time, Barnes and Noble, which manages the Coop, took up managing J. August.

Jeremiah P. Murphy ’73, the president of the Coop, said the Coop had been negotiating to purchase another property in the Square and had picked up J. August’s lease in case the other deal fell through.

“We could use it for our operations...we’re pretty packed—nowhere to go if [we] want to expand trade book business. We used to have a greater space,” he said. Murphy added that the Coop had no immediate plans to move into the J. August space.

He said business at the Coop has improved this year.

“I think it’s become much stronger over the last couple months. I see more people from the area out and about,” he said.

—Staff writer Joseph M. Tartakoff can be reached at tartakof@fas.harvard.edu.