More than a year since its landmark Allen Street storefront closed, Webster's Bookstore Cafe is set to open a new downtown location within months, co-owner Elaine Meder-Wilgus said.

The new Webster's will occupy the former Creative Oasis space at 133 E. Beaver Ave., a leased, basement-level facility that will provide about 5,500 square feet of public space, she said.

That will roughly double the space that Webster's had at its original location, 128 S. Allen St., where it did business for about 11 years.

"This is even better than I hoped it would be," Meder-Wilgus said in a recent interview. She said the new space will allow the complete consolidation of her book- and food-selling operations -- once spread among three locations -- as she adopts a more-streamlined business model.

"We're going to have some great times in here," she said, looking around the as-yet-unfinished space.

As of Tuesday, the demolition portion of a pre-opening renovation project had begun. Final plans were being developed for submission to local authorities.

Owned by Meder-Wilgus, husband William Wilgus and some close family members and friends, the new Webster's is tentatively aiming to open around Dec. 31. But that hinges on the renovation-and-construction process, Meder-Wilgus said.

Webster's had grown into a well-established downtown icon when it was forced from its Allen Street space in July 2010, having fallen behind on its rent. It maintained a separate Aaron Drive eatery, a downtown book warehouse and a temporary book-selling space on Fraser Street for some limited time afterward.

All of those operations will be united under a single roof in the new Beaver Avenue space, beneath Uncle Eli's, Meder-Wilgus said. She said the tough economy exposed structural problems in her earlier business model.

But with the support of loved ones and other mentors, she went on, she has fully restructured her business approach into a more sustainable model. Webster's now has an advisory board and dramatically reduced overhead, Meder-Wilgus said. The Penn State Small Business Development Center assisted in the process.

"People were tremendous in their support," Meder-Wilgus said. She emphasized that Webster's will retain its community-centered, personal character -- no snobbery necessary.

Among the anticipated highlights of the new space:

• Compared to the Allen Street space, the new Webster's will have three times as much kitchen space. It will retain its focus on beverages and locally supplied, healthful food, Meder-Wilgus said. Clare Traynor's pies will be among the featured items.

• While the space is on a basement level, it has large, alley-facing windows that usher in outside light. An outdoor seating area -- to be located along an adjacent alleyway -- is tentatively in the works.

• A children's area will let parents monitor their kids while remaining "part of the larger adult world" in the store, Meder-Wilgus said.

• The extra square footage will enable a more spacious layout and a 20-percent bigger stock of books on the shelves.

• Josh Ferko's record-selling business will remain an integral part of Webster's -- perhaps now with more space for vinyl inventory, Ferko said.

• Two community art-gallery spaces -- one dedicated to Creative Oasis founder David Newman -- will spotlight local art.

Ferko applauded Meder-Wilgus' perseverance, saying that the Webster's formula -- from books to music -- helps to build community.

"Books are a common denominator," Meder-Wilgus said. "I love when a 10-year-old tells me about a book they just read -- not because they have to write a book report, but because they're so excited. That's what I've missed."

Earlier coverage

• Webster's Announces Short-Term Location in State College (July 30, 2010)