Many people seem to have forgotten that there was a Barnes and Noble BOOKSTAR just down the walkway in the Town and Country shopping center about 20 years ago. That store sadly shuttered its doors about 15 years ago or so, but I remember it very well as having a great Bargain Books selection and how airy and organized it was.
So, where do I begin with this new Barnes and Noble, the first one in central Phoenix in 20 years as another reviewer pointed out.
Granted, it has an modern, quite appealing look to it, but somehow I do miss those dark wood shelves. To me, that was the appearance of a bookstore. Granted, the signage in the old stores was awful, but having books on a wood bookshelf had that certain appeal. Not this one - it's white, somewhat antiseptic in appearance but I guess that's what the young'uns want these days. No big deal for me, a bookstore is a bookstore, and seeing the crowds there these past few days since opening (and yes, I was there the first day it opened)and a very friendly staff made my heart glad.
It's a two story building - sort of like the one that was in Kierland Commons - also sadly gone these past 10 years, thank goodness it has an elevator because the old legs can't handle escalators that well anymore especially with an armful of books. The cafe is appealing, and the store is well-stocked - excepting one area (see below)
So, what is my major concern or gripe?
Before Barnes and Noble was brought out by a British conglomerate, it was owned by the Riggio family. Len Riggio (who has passed on) was strictly partisan politically but he at least had a great appreciation of History, and the Barnes and Noble bargain shelves (now Book Annex) were chock full of history books whether it be about the ancient Roman Empire or Native American culture or reprinted accounts written by Grant and Lee. James Daunt, the current CEO of B&N is a Brit who was once in charge of the prestigious Waterstones chain in London, and he is to be commended in bringing B&N back to life and out of stagnation, while getting the public interested in reading again. But there's been a cost - those best-in-the-business bargain books, especially the histories have been cut back and in its place are the same old pictorials we've seen on their shelves for the past five or six years whether it be Great Battles or those large, ponderous Army, Navy, Air Force commemorative books. There has practically been no new titles save a very fine Illustrated History of the Civil War book (I reviewed on B&N online about two years ago) I kind of wished that Mr. Daunt had been at the opening of the store (if he was I didn't see him) because I would have asked why B&N had gone downhill in selecting new remainder books but kept recycling the same ones for those past 5-6 years - and no, COVID is not the reason why.
Yes, Manga is the rage,ditto DEI nonsense and bestsellers run about $40 these days (I'm old enough to remember when they were $20 or $25 at most. But I prefer a good remainder book and my bookshelves at home are chock full of Barnes and Noble bought (and yes, their own reprints) of books like "Abraham Lincoln in his Own Words", "The Rough Riders" (illustrated version),, "The Generals" (about Grant and Lee) and so many others. The bargain selection in this new store leaves a lot to be desired, and when I was back there yesterday (July 10th) there was even less as some of the titles sold out.
I'm glad that there is at least a Book Annex (how sterile that sounds compared to Bargain Books) section in this new store (the Arrowhead store shockingly does NOT have one), but it should be chock-full of newer remainder books in all subjects, especially history.
Mr. Riggio got it, Mr. Daunt with all his positive approaches to book selling still does not. I hope that will change soon as would like to frequent this new store often. But not just for a $40 dollar book that one might find in a Goodwill store a year later at $3.29
Bring back those great Barnes and Noble history bargain books and reprints, Mr. Daunt. read more