Marquette Trying to Stifle Sweeney’s?

GOP3.COM is reporting the following:

Marquette University will not be renewing Sweeney’s lease which expires in September 2008, effectively bouncing the long term competition of the BookMarq.

We contacted Sweeney’s, and got a somewhat different story. Chris Zilvitis, Assistant Director at the store, told us that Marquette has not committed to renew Sweeney’s lease. It is not definite, at least so far as Sweeney’s knows, that it will not be renewed.

Michael Whittow of the Marquette Office of Administration, was not immediately available to comment.

Zilvitis said that, regardless of the lease, “we’ll be here for years to come,” and pointed out that there is plenty of commercial property to lease in the Marquette neighborhood.

Marquette has a history of pet monopolies, and has taken what has to be viewed as anti-competitive action against the bookseller before.

[Update]

Mary Pat Pfeil, Senior Director of University Communication, confirms that Sweeney’s will be required to vacate its current location. She understands that the independent bookstore has already made inquiries for an alternative commercial rental.