| Location |
| 1314 West Hickory near Fry Street, |
|
(Hickory side) between Aura Coffee and The Retreat leasing office. (Oak side) between Christian Campus Center and Fera's Pasta. |
| Hours |
|
Mon /Tues 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Wed/Thurs 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm |
|
Sat 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
| (Holidays usually have different hours) |
| Phone |
| (940) 387-1313 |
| Website |
| Official site |
| Owner(s) |
| Established |
| 1925 |
Voertman's is a college supply store, specializing in textbooks and art supplies. They also have UNT themed clothing and gifts.
The parking lot is on the Oak Street side of the store, where there are two exquisite stone lions flanking the doors.
The store is compartmentalized into two sections, with the Art Department entrance on Hickory, and the Book Department entrance on Oak.
Textbook Department
Voertman's buys, sells, and rents textbooks, used and new, mainly for UNT, but also some for TWU..
The textbook side now runs an over-the-counter service in which the employee pulls the customers books for them. This gives customers a break so that the employees do the work. This did away with the library-style display of books, which was overtaken by the merch side that now dominates the floor.
Since some recent changes, their textbooks are now very reasonably priced and significantly cheaper than the Barnes and Noble on campus. Students come here to save money.
The school even comes here to save money! Voertman's has a contract with UNT's Athletic department to provide textbooks to all of the Mean Green athletes, and its College of Visual Arts & Design sources Foundations class kits through the Art Department.
While some promotional items are no longer carried, Voertmans has done a great job of providing Mean Green fanatics with an array of options for clothing, decals, school supplies, and other
accessories to help display their school pride. It's a must-stop for all returning alumni.
Art Department
Voertman's Art Department is a section of the store which stocks specialty art supplies. It caters to the desires of nearby CVAD students. Under the ownership and management of Augie, one of Voertman's tenured staff member's, the Art department underwent many changes. A new layout and floor arrangement was one of the first changes made , and customers found it to be more spacious and inviting. With the new space, Voertman's has incorporated an Art Gallery /lounge area in the front of the store (on the Hickory side) which serves as a nice spot for students, alumni, teachers and Dentonites to take a moment to sit down and relax. Sometimes murals are painted in the windows, adorned with seasonal and informative graphics. The staff members in the Art department are friendly, and never mind coming from behind the counter to assist a customer.
In 2023, a sticker machine was added towards the entrance in collaboration with UNT's printmaking club (PANTS).
The art department has steadily receded from the windows.
History
Voertmans opened about 10,000 years ago, back in 1925, as an independent store. However, Paul Voertman, who took over the store from his father in 1952, sold it to Neebo in 1990. Neebo then sold the store in 2013 to an independent company.
In 1960, Paul Voertman created an annual art competition, the Voertman's Art Show, allowing UNT students to have their work critiqued by art professionals.
Notably, Paul Voertman did not want college students working in the store, preferring to hire only older people. The first college-aged person was hired in the late 70s and had recently graduated with an elementary education degree. Since her success, Voertman began hiring younger people, and now the staff is comprised of both college students and older employees who were originally hired by Voertman himself.
In May 2004, the "t" on the Voertman's sign on the Hickory Street side set on fire. No real damage was done, just a big old scorch mark.
In 2010, the Paul Voertman Concert Hall in the UNT Music Building was named after the former owner of Voertman's.
Famously, author Anne Rice once told the New York Times, "I remember walking into Voertman's Bookstore and seeing all those racks of books. All this stuff I wasn't supposed to read as a Catholic. Aldous Huxley, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus. I had to know what was in these books." 1
Voertman's revitalized The Voertman's Nook by inviting passerby to freely graffiti the pocket alley next to the building. It is constantly evolving, as the Art Department stocks spray paint.
Parking
The attached parking lot on Oak is for customers of Voertman's! Students often get towed for parking here and walking to class.
There is 2-hour street parking on Hickory, and no time limit on Oak.
Voertman's has two parking lots across the street from the store that are rented out by semester to staff and students. Be careful, you will be towed if you are caught in these two parking lots.
Photos
Old textbook department on the Oak St side of the store. Now reorganized with registers and to the right merchandise taking the floor.
Textbooks, with the clothing department in the background. It doesn't look this way anymore.
Art department in the 80s or so.
date unknown
date unknown
