Robert Barker/University Photography

Celebrating the opening of the new Cornell Store on the Ithaca Commons June 9 are, from left: Joel Malina, vice president for university relations; Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life; Pat Wynn, director for auxiliary services in student and campus life; Fred Picirilli, director of The Cornell Store; Mayor Svante Myrick; Jodie Marnell, branch manager; Gary Ferguson of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance; and Jennifer Tavares, president and CEO of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce.

At noon on June 9, Ithaca Commons visitors could add a new store to their shopping experience: The Cornell Store.

Officially opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, this new branch of The Cornell Store, at 102 E. State St., “provides a capstone on the last four years of public and private investment in downtown Ithaca,” said Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09, addressing about 60 local and university representatives.

Noting that the beauty of the recently restored Ithaca Commons has attracted retailers to downtown, Myrick said, “none is more important” than The Cornell Store, which will draw tourists and visitors to the pedestrian mall. He said Cornell is a major economic driver in Tompkins and adjacent counties, employing the most people and attracting the most visitors: “The city of Ithaca is successful because of Cornell University.”

Joel Malina, Cornell vice president for university relations, reversed the mayor’s statement: “Without a vibrant, successful Ithaca, Cornell couldn’t be anything close to what it is today and what it strives to be.” He added: “We are thrilled to have some new [Cornell] employees coming down here to join the 300 employees at Seneca Place. Cornell can’t be an ‘up there’ institution – it needs to be down here as well.”

Gary Ferguson, from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, called the store “an extremely professional organization that will be a great asset and a great destination.”

Jennifer Tavares, president and CEO of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, said the Commons is one of the top three reasons people cite on why they come to Ithaca. The Cornell Store is a “tremendous investment” by the university, she said.

City of Ithaca representatives JoAnn Cornish, director of planning and economic development, and Phyllisa DeSarno, deputy director of economic development, commented on how quickly Cornell responded to their invitation in fall 2015 to open an “anchor” store on the west end of the Commons and how quickly the store came into being. An announcement on the store’s opening was released in March.

“We’ve had tremendous support from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance and Cornell leadership,” said Fred Piccirilli, director of The Cornell Store. He thanked his staff for all the work they did to launch the downtown branch.

Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life, said he often tells students to make sure their time here in Ithaca is not a “stopover,” and urges them to “really try to integrate in the community.” Cornell is setting a great example of community engagement for its students by having partnerships such as the one the store has with the city of Ithaca and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, he said.

Open seven days a week, The Cornell Store on the Ithaca Commons includes two prominent display windows and offers Cornell clothing, accessories and gifts, including specialty food items with either a Cornell or local connection.