It has been a number of years since I had been in a Barnes and Noble, the last time being down in…read moreOcala (since the one in Gainesville had closed down many years before). Hearing that one had opened in Gainesville again, I thought that to be interesting, but not something that I really needed to go into deliberately... no, I could wait until I was in the area and didn't really have much else planned. Well, that time has finally come, and after a visit through Best Buy two doors down (where I didn't buy anything... I was just curious what technological gadgets exist these days) I walked into Barnes and Noble. Entering, it seemed to have the same sorts of things I have grown accustomed to in these stores over the years. Newly published and best sellers at the front, then stacks going towards the back that hold various subject matter. Coffee shop to the right, which was NOT Starbucks and therefore did not make the entire store reek of burnt coffee. I started walking through the store, when I realized that the layout is not all that great. Because of the height of the stacks and the way that they are labelled, it is pretty much impossible to know where different sections of material are located without walking through the entire store to find them. Sight lines are kind of ruined, so figuring out where romance novels or the kids section is will take a bit of exploring. However, this is not the problem I had with the store. I mean, I get that... you want people to walk through the store to some extent so that they see more of the store and what you have to offer. No... My biggest problem with the store is that once I found the section I wanted, the books were in no discernible order! Every other store I have ever been in (that wasn't a second hand store where books kind of just get grouped into a section) has the books ordered alphabetically by author, but here? Nope. Science fiction and fantasy started out with the A's, quickly ramped through the alphabet, then started again. Same happened with the Y/A section and children's section. It just... doesn't make sense. Looking for a very popular author in the SciFi/Fantasy section, there were none in stock. None. An author with more than eighty titles, including recent (in the past year) releases, and nothing in stock. There are other bookstores in town, ones that are closer for me, and I do not see myself going to this store anytime soon.

i've been down on my luck as of late, i never tried to start trouble or got in anyone's face or…read morehonestly tried to be a pest, the staff at the kitchen area were always splendid, and the lass with the green hair is always friendly and the most welcoming. but the redhead guy in brown leather shoes is a the type that of over the top kind of manager and very strict if you sit on the ground near an outlet instead of in their chairs in the main "computer" area, and is unnecessarily strict if you don't look or dress "right". i don't care what his intentions were, i felt targeted.

This store is a throwback to the comics and cards stores I frequented in the 1980s, which were…read moresmaller, more chaotic and less corporate. There are an intriguing selection of old comics, magazines, toys and sports cards. I like coming in to find random stuff like Shell Scott Mystery Magazine from 1966, five issues of a series reprinting EC Comics' Extra and the program for the 1970 Palatka High School football team. Boxes of back issues are full of $3 comics. One wall has CGC-graded comics.

Everything. Excellent staff. Always helpful and very reasonable prices that align well with market…read morevalue.

Finally went into the new location for Mega Gaming and Comics recently for a game with some…read morefriends. Truth be told, I was not impressed. They have plenty of floorspace, don't get me wrong, and they have a lot of inventory, most of it locked behind glass doors that you have to call a sales person over to open. Seated there for a couple of hours, I found that the place is kept at a temperature that is a bit too warm. Combine that with the lighting that is too stark and the lack of sound proofing that causes echoes to occur everywhere, and staying within the building for any length of time is not a pleasant experience. I get the distinct feeling that this is a storefront where they want you to come in, select something, buy it, and get out. I felt no sense of community in the store, no warmth (except for the heat), and no real welcomeness.

I was honestly hoping the reviews from over a year ago about resealed Pokemon packs were fake or at…read moreleast an issue they may have fixed but boy was I incorrect. The packs are absolutely resealed and on top of that cost double what you get at the store. This shop is absolutely dookie bootie trash and I just wanted to rip something until I realized the packs were resealed. Do not come here for Pokemon cards.

I like five below because they have a lot of different variety of stuff that are useful and cheap…read more My main complaint is that it is usually a bit disorganized in here which makes it harder to locate items. The workers are usually really nice though and willing to help me find an item. I've bought a lot of stuff from here at a cheaper price than I might've elsewhere

It is a place where all peoples meet! Low prices bring everyone to the table!…read moreMost everything on the store is below $5, but if it is not, they will let you know. I have only seen a $10 Below sign, so I don't think anything is above that price. This is a great place for :cookbooks, cell phone accessories, gifts, speakers, headphones, toys, make-up, etc. All prices are marked, and they have lots of choices. It is agreat store to just come by and look through, because you will invariably see something and say, "This is cool; I can use that!" They also have hands-free deivices for $5 bucks! I bought one, and it is 5x better than the $20 one that I bought at Best Buy! That one mounted in the heater vent, and overheated my phone in the middle of an Uber ride! Not good!!! It mounts on the windoww, and iis working fine! Get you some!!

Well organized Coliseum of Comics location. We had fun exploring some Riftbound and Magic the…read moreGathering card binders and singles this afternoon. I personally have to note this was the CLEANEST bathroom in all of the Coliseum of Comics I've visited in Florida. The price ranges were on par with all of the other stores in the state as well. The main reason I wanted to leave this 5 star review was for the young man working the counter in the front. Warm welcome the moment we walked in, attentive to any questions we had, and overall the KINDEST employee we have ever interacted with in the 9 locations I have been to. I unfortunately did not catch his name but he must be college age since he said he was getting ready for his midterms. We fan girled over Hunchback of Notre Dame because of my earrings and I told him to look up 1998 Notre Dame De Paris on YouTube. Having more workers with his customer service skills/ level of friendliness makes a huge difference compared to others we have been to in the past.

2nd time visiting Coliseum and Dustin had excellent customer service, knowledgeable of local…read moreevents, and was just awesome to talk to. This time I purchased some Riftbound singles to build my collection. The prices for singles were good! In general all of the employees here are kind and look forward to assisting you for any of your potential needs/finds in the store! Thank you so much Coliseum!!

What an amazing find!…read more Didn't know about this place before coming in and just floored at how much stuff was here. In a nutshell - Video games, collectibles, dvds, cds, vinyl, used and new books, board games and even musical instruments. It's a great store to look around and find some things you didn't realize you wanted!

I had no idea this store even existed until now lol, but wow it's absolutely huge. They have books,…read moreFunkos, CDs, records, collectibles, kids toys, blind bags, and pretty much every 80's baby dream item you could think of. My daughter and I loved the variety and could honestly spend forever looking around. I also think it's really neat that they buy your items and resell gently used treasures, so you never know what you're going to find. It's such a fun place to shop if you're looking for a unique or special gift. There's plenty of parking, the staff always says hi when I walk in, and the whole vibe is welcoming and nostalgic. Overall highly recommended. Definitely check it out!

For me, there's just something special about a real book that you can hold in your hands. Turning…read morethe pages, feeling the weight of the book, and even that familiar smell of the paper is an experience that an e-reader can never replace. If I didn't have a hundred other things pulling me in different directions every day, I could honestly spend hours getting lost in a bookstore and reading all day long. Books-A-Million is one of those places that reminds me to slow down. It's easy to wander through the different sections, discover a title you never knew existed, or leave with a journal, puzzle, or thoughtful gift along with a new book. I love that bookstores like this still exist in a world that's insanely digital and unhealthy. Maybe one day, in my later years, life will slow down enough that I can spend entire afternoons curled up with a stack of books and nowhere else to be. Until then, I'll keep sneaking into bookstores every chance I get, because there's something about being surrounded by books that just feels like home.

Usually find what Ive come in looking for. The employees are pretty good at directing me to where…read morethe book is located. Only wish they had a couple other places to set. To I can figure out which of them I need.

Can't believe I stumbled onto this little gem. Beers, free board games to play, excellent…read morecommunity, clean bright environment, friendly staff. This place is a win for the Gainesville community. 5 stars!

Extremely friendly staff! I love it here…read more They have a computer with their inventory so you can type in what you are looking for and see if they have it. Pretty convenient. They have drawers of bulk TCG cards. Big parking space.