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Barnes & Noble Booksellers

3.6 (464 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Barnes & Noble Booksellers Books, Mags, Music & Video Photos

Business Info

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Barnes & Noble Booksellers

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Reviews With Photos

Lety G.

One of my New Year's goals is to read more and so I'm grateful there's still one Barnes and Noble location close enough to home. It's easy to lose track of time in there because there so much to see. Everything for the most part is pretty well laid out so you can find what you're looking for. The staff is also super helpful and attentive in case you can't find something specific. There's ample parking which is always a plus! I'll definitely be back again for more books!

Pranathi B.

After the advent of e-commerce, my trips to physical stores drastically reduced. A gift card to Barnes and noble prompted me to visit the store for the first time and I must say I was impressed. In addition to books, they have a significant collection of toys for all age ranges, an in-house coffee shop, stationery items etc. They have little write ups for some book sections describing them which were pretty neat! They also have deals like buy one get one half off. It felt like entering a treasure trove and I enjoyed the experience. They do not do price match but they have BN membership at $40 per year using which members can get 10% off.

Vinyl back on display :)
Derek L.

Need to write about the racial discrimination I received from the woman in the music section on Sunday January 6, 2026. I walked into the music section to browse and received no greeting. Meanwhile, I noticed that the white customers who walked in after me received very friendly greetings of "hello, welcome in." Then, when I approached said woman behind the counter to ask her a question, she literally just stared at me. I was waiting for her to greet me but I realized she wasn't planning on addressing me, so that made for an awkward moment as I pivoted to my question. Quite incredible how openly rude and racist she is, as she showed her clear contempt for a person of color daring to speak to her. I also came across an older white man who was quite useless and lacking in knowledge about store products. I asked if the holiday wrapping paper was 50% off because there was no signage and he told me that "it probably will be later on." What?! It's already 10 days after Christmas and you don't think it'll be on sale til later? One quite look at their website showed me that it was indeed 50% off. This is the customer service from Barnes & noble in Santa Clara in 2026 apparently. You can bet I'll be taking my business elsewhere.

Comments on highlighted books
Nancy L.

I love going to and supporting bookstores like barnes and nobles to explore books, new ones, classics, and by genres that I'm interested in. The book selection here is super comprehensive and you can find like everything here!!! I spent like an hour or more in here because I'm an active reader and was curious about the little written book summaries and recommendations from the staff. They're so fun to read and made me want to get into some of their recommendations they were showing off! I also loved the board game selection and variety. I was looking for a specific one and I'm glad they had it here! Priced pretty close to original. They really have a game for everyone too. The puzzle selection is also fun to look through, I got a 1000 piece hello kitty one last time that I finished. I appreciate that there's a starbucks in here to get a drink and chill with a computer or a book to read. I do wish there were more seating areas to read since it can be a little noisy at the starbucks. I noticed some single wooden chairs but they were taken up. There's also a junior section of the store that is huge as well that would be good for younger kids! I'm coming back here when I need some book/game inspiration again!

Kaetyng C.

I'm sad that so many bookstores are closing. I love coming to this Barnes and Noble and walking around. I love supporting smaller bookstores but they just don't have the same variety that B&N does. This location is huge (not as big as the multi-floor ones I've seen) but the variety is amazing. I love just walking around and perusing the aisles. I hope that this store is getting enough traffic and support. While I was roaming, the Starbucks Barista offered me a sample of their new Caramel Ribbon Crunch drink which I was surprised by! Parking is always easy around the building and it's always a great experience coming here.

"The Let Them Theory & Art of War"
Kirk T.

It was my first time at this B&N location! Clean store, found what I was looking for right away. Will be back for more books in the future

This is the third time that I have encountered rude, unfriendly customer service at this Barnes and Noble. There was a set of backpacks that was kept near the front counter, but slightly behind it. Its location made its purpose very ambiguous - was it supposed to be checked out by customers or not? When we tried to check out the backpacks, the customer service assistant very rudely blocked us. When we said we were interested in checking out the backpacks, he said they were for sale but could only be looked at, not handled. What's the point of having items for sale if they cannot be handled? If you don't want customers to handle them, wall them off. If you want customers to handle them, keep them accessible. But don't try to have it both ways. Keeping them in an ambiguous location and then rudely telling customers not to handle them is not just rude but plain stupid and bad for business. And let's not get started on the chairs near the Starbucks which are all torn up. I have been to several Barnes and Noble stores in the Bay Area multiple times, and this is the only store where I have encountered rude, irrational behavior from store assistants multiple times. Is it something in the water from Stevens Creek?

haul!

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10 months ago

The staff is terrible. They are not just unhelpful, they go out of their way to make things difficult for you.

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Barnes & Noble Booksellers Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Barnes & Noble Booksellers

When will this location reopen for in store purchases?

It's open inside now. You can walk inside and browse and buy.

Can you use a Starbucks gift card to pay at this location?

They don't take starbucks gift cards. They DO take barnes & noble gift cards at the cafe.

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Review Highlights - Barnes & Noble Booksellers

So I had a margharita pizza and a tall starbuck mocha while enjoying the silence and peaceful atmosphere of BN!

Mentioned in 12 reviews

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Recycle Book Store - Recycle Book Store

Recycle Book Store

4.4(510 reviews)
2.9 miDowntown
$

This bookstore is awesome!! I can't believe I've never been here until now, though I have visited…read morethe Campbell location. First off, I love the political signs posted on the windows, like the "everyone is welcome here except ICE". When I walked in, the store looked exactly like what I've always envisioned a cozy community bookstore to be like--filled to the brim with books and with a lot of character. I came here to sell some books and it was pretty quick--I had probably 20-25 books and the employee finished in less than 10 minutes. As I was waiting for my books, I walked around exploring. I was very impressed with the selection of fiction. There were actually quite a bit of new releases, but also older books and editions that I would likely not find at a corporate bookstore. If I had the time, I'd love to spend 1-2 hours here just browsing. I didn't expect to get much money for my books; I was actually going to donate them and didn't realize that they still buy books, so their offer was ok. I was moreso pleasantly surprised that the employee was so nice lol, and also a little chatty. Honestly the last time I sold books was probably 15-20+ years ago at Half Price Books and I remember they were always pretty rude/standoffish lol. In addition to the service, the atmosphere, and the book selection, the cherry on top for me was that they have a special shelf where you can buy a book there for 50% off for them to donate to the library at Elmwood Correctional Facility at a bit of a loss for the store. I used most of my credit from the books to get a Stephen King book for the library.

I've been visiting this bookstore for over 20 years and I definitely have a love/hate relationship…read morewith this bookstore lol. The Bad: The staff can occasionally come across as a bit unwelcoming, and I personally wish the storefront atmosphere stayed more focused on books and less on outside messaging. They sometimes price popular or trending used books higher than what you'd pay for a brand-new copy elsewhere. The Good: I absolutely love the character of this bookstore. Shelves packed floor to ceiling, creaky wooden floors, stacks of books everywhere, and even a cat roaming around the store it feels like something straight out of a fantasy novel. I've visited countless bookstores, and nothing beats the old vintage feel of this place. They have a great selection of beautiful leather-bound books, plus an excellent fantasy and sci-fi section. I especially love when they put books out in under $6! The prices at this location are better, and this store feels much more like a classic old bookstore. The Campbell location feels more like a modern bookstore, and the prices there can sometimes be higher. At the end of the day, this place is a San Jose landmark and everyone should visit it at least once. Even when I disagree with certain aspects of it, I still keep coming back because it's nostalgic.

Photos
Recycle Book Store - Emma the Cat :)

Emma the Cat :)

Recycle Book Store - Emma the Cat :)

Emma the Cat :)

Recycle Book Store - Book selling hours, store hours

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Book selling hours, store hours

Recycle Bookstore - Lots to choose from

Recycle Bookstore

4.2(331 reviews)
2.7 mi
$$

I could spend a whole day in this bookstore! This store carries so many different types of books,…read moreboth used and new. The selection was overwhelming. I stopped by on a Tuesday evening, and it wasn't overly busy. I meandered through the aisles and was blown away by the genres/styles/options. Whether you love mystery or memoirs or illustrated novels or fiction, there is a book for you at Recycle Bookstore. What's more, since they sell used books, there are so many options at an extremely affordable price. I was able to pick up a Spanish vocabulary book for less than $5! The service was unremarkable, which is exactly what I want from a bookstore. I was able to slowly check out all the books without any rush/pressure. There was so much cute merch in the store as well, ranging from tote bags to stickers. If you're looking for a book to read or even some fun souvenirs, check this spot out!

I take back what I said!!…read more This store is a headache and a half. The buy backs on this store have gotten continually AWFUL throughout the years. I recently went with three large boxes of books, and got $4 cash back for everything. There was probably 50 - 70 books total. I remember going here as a kid, the charm, the cat, and now they don't even have a cat, and their service has gotten awful. Same goes for their Almaden location, too. TLDR: Not worth your time at all. Selection has gotten worse over time, too.

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Recycle Bookstore
Recycle Bookstore - Interior

Interior

Recycle Bookstore - Books on local history: Frontier village book

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Books on local history: Frontier village book

Soyodo

Soyodo

4.4(26 reviews)
4.0 miNorth San Jose
$

Soyodo is a place that feels deeply familiar and comforting to me. My parents used to come here…read moreoften, so every visit carries a sense of nostalgia and connection to home. Since Chinese painting and calligraphy are among my favorite hobbies, Soyodo has always been a meaningful place to find traditional Chinese painting supplies and guidebooks esp for maobi, painting flowers, landscapes, and ancient figures. I really appreciate that they also carry crafting supplies and classic Chinese literature, not just generic art books. Everything here feels rooted in tradition and care. The store also offers novels, children's books, Chinese New Year decor, vases, and small toys, which makes it feel like a cultural space rather than just a bookstore. On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable. I've even found books for as little as $2-4, which makes browsing and discovering new reads even more special. The owners are an older Chinese couple who are quiet, reserved, and genuinely kind. One of the things I cherish most about Soyodo is how peaceful and calm the store is. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, browse without pressure, and feel grounded. Stores like this are rare and I truly hope Soyodo continues to thrive. If you value culture, tradition, and supporting a small family-owned business, this is absolutely a place worth visiting and supporting.

The store has a large selection of Chinese calligraphy brushes, tools, Chinese novels and…read moretranslated Western -authored books. It also has herbal ai cao 艾草related products and other health tools , and other Chinese culture-related accessories.

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Soyodo
Soyodo - New address as of Jan 2023

New address as of Jan 2023

Soyodo

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Spartan Bookstore - Clothing/merchandise

Spartan Bookstore

2.4(45 reviews)
4.7 miDowntown
$$$

This book store inside the Student Union building sells more than just textbooks and writing…read morematerials. Visitors can shop for an array of merchandise including electronics, accessories, personal care products, snacks & beverages in the marketplace, and more... although I didn't find any campus posters. I enjoyed browsing the unique puzzles, games, and greeting cards, as well as the stationery and household items featuring awesome artwork and designs by Julia Gash. They also have baskets available for your shopping convenience. As a San Jose State alum, I came by this past Friday mainly to replace my old SJSU hooded sweatshirt which I purchased more than a decade ago when I was in grad school at the university. They offer a wide selection of clothing, taking up at least half the space on the ground floor. And I know it's the school color, but I wasn't ready for the blinding overload of blue when I first entered the shop. That didn't stop me from finding the perfect lightweight pullover hoodie, simple and cute, just my style. I really like the fabric of their apparel here, soft and smooth, quality breathable material. The purchase process was quick and easy, with friendly service, and parking was plentiful on E. San Fernando Street midday.

I don't know why this place has such bad reviews. Everything is pretty well stocked, clean, and…read moreorganized. Staff have all been great and helpful. Plenty of clothes and gear to rep SJSU. Prices might be steep, but that's expected.

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Spartan Bookstore - Lower level

Lower level

Spartan Bookstore - Hats

Hats

Spartan Bookstore - Design by Julia Gash

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Design by Julia Gash

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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